Bahraini officials have previously said Manama was seeking to improve ties with Tehran after years of tensions.
Bahrain has requested, through Russia, that diplomatic ties with Iran be restored, Iranian media reported, citing presidential adviser Mohammed Jamshidi.
Friday’s report comes after several public statements by Bahraini officials expressing a willingness to repair ties with Iran after years of tension between the two countries.
“Bahrain has sent a message to Iran through Russia to normalize relations with Iran,” Jamshidi told Iran’s Press TV.
Manama broke off diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016 following rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Bahrain also accused Iran of involvement in anti-government protests that swept the country in 2011.
Saudi Arabia normalized ties with Iran last year as part of a China-brokered deal.
During a visit to Moscow last month, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said his country looked forward to improving ties with Iran.
Bahrain’s state news agency BNA quoted him as saying there was no reason to delay the restoration of ties between the two countries.
King Hamad reiterated this message when he met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing last week.
“As an advocate of peace, tolerance and human coexistence, I believe we should adopt a peaceful and diplomatic approach based on the principles of good neighborliness and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs,” Hamad said, according to BNA.
“We seek to resume diplomatic relations with our neighbor Iran and welcome your support in this effort to promote peace and stability in the region.”
Last month, Bahrain’s king sent a cable to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei offering condolences for the death of Iran’s President Ibrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash.
In 2020, Bahrain signed a deal to formalize ties with Iran’s arch foe, Israel, as part of a U.S.-brokered effort. Two years later, the Gulf state signed a security cooperation agreement with Israel.
In December, Bahrain joined a U.S.-led military coalition to counter attacks on international shipping lanes by Yemen’s Iran-allied Houthi rebels.
Yemeni militants have vowed to continue attacks on Israeli-linked shipping within their zone of influence, particularly in the Red Sea, until the Israeli government ends the Gaza war that has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians.
