Iran and Bahrain begin talks to restore ties

Bahrain's Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani held talks in Tehran with Iran's acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani to restore relations between the two countries.

"The discussions were conducted within the framework of fraternal historical relations between the two states, religious ties, good neighborliness, shared history, and mutual interests," Bahrain's news agency statement said.

Relations between Iran and Bahrain have been highly strained. A significant portion of Bahrain's population is Shiite. Bahrain has repeatedly accused Iran of interfering in its internal affairs, and in 2011, the ruling dynasty managed to maintain power only with Saudi intervention.

However, in recent times, other moderate monarchies in the region have pursued efforts to normalize relations with Iran. Bahrain has now followed the trend.