Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – After a period of persistent bilateral difficulties, Bahrain has formally decided to send its ambassador back to Iraq, signaling a major diplomatic step forward.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani made the announcement on Saturday following a phone conversation.
The major development comes after Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi made a formal visit to Manama.
Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the crown prince of Bahrain, described al-Zaidi’s trip as historic, pointing out that it was the first time an Iraqi prime minister has visited Bahrain since 2003.
Al-Zaidi met with the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and other senior officials to discuss cooperation in politics, business, and investments.
The Iraqi prime minister also extended an invitation to the Bahraini king to visit Iraq.
Zayani emphasized that reinstating the ambassador demonstrates Bahrain’s commitment to enhancing joint cooperation and reinforcing communication channels to support regional stability, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.
In the past few years, relations between Iraq and Bahrain have occasionally been strained. In June 2019, Bahrain recalled its ambassador after demonstrators broke into the embassy’s headquarters in Baghdad.
In April 2026, Manama summoned Iraq’s chargé d’affaires due to regional security concerns, despite the appointment of Khalid al-Mansour as a new ambassador in 2024 to improve relations.
