Bahrain had cut ties with Iran in 2016, but relations improved after the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran last year.
Bahrain and Iran have agreed to start talks aimed at restoring political relations between the two countries, following a meeting between their foreign ministers in Tehran, Bahrain's Foreign Ministry said.
The meeting between Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani and acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani took place on Sunday, during al-Zayani's visit to Iran, where he is participating in the summit of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue.
“The two sides agreed at this meeting to establish the necessary mechanisms to initiate talks between the two countries to study how to resume political relations between them,” a statement said.
Bahrain and Iran have had long-standing disputes for more than a decade. Manama had cut ties with Tehran in 2016 after tensions between Bahrain's ally Saudi Arabia and Iran. Bahrain also accused Iran of being involved in a 2011 anti-government protest movement led by the country's Shiite community, which was quelled after the arrival of a Saudi force in Bahrain.
Saudi Arabia also cut ties with Iran in 2016, but restored them last year as part of a deal brokered by China, and relations between Iran and Bahrain have also improved since then.
In early June, Bahrain sent a request through Russia to restore diplomatic relations with Iran, Iranian media reported.
And in May, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said the country hoped to improve relations with Iran.
