TEHRAN – On Monday afternoon, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi departed for Bahrain as part of a series of high-level regional visits aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and addressing the evolving situation in West Asia.

Araqchi, accompanied by a senior delegation, left Tehran for Manama, the capital of Bahrain, as he continues his regional consultations.

The visit to Bahrain marks the tenth stop in Araqchi’s ongoing diplomatic tour, which has already included trips to several key nations in the region. After his meetings in Bahrain, Araqchi is scheduled to visit Kuwait, further extending his diplomatic efforts.

During a press briefing earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baqaei confirmed the upcoming stops in Bahrain and Kuwait, highlighting the importance of these discussions in the context of growing regional challenges. 

Before arriving in Bahrain, Araqchi had traveled to Turkey, where he engaged in talks with senior officials, focusing on the recent escalation of violence, particularly the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

Araqchi’s broader regional tour has taken him to numerous countries, including Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey. His diplomatic efforts are part of Iran’s initiative to mobilize international support in response to Israel's military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, which have claimed the lives of over 42,603 people in Gaza and more than 2,448 in Lebanon since the beginning of October 2023.

The escalating conflict, which has seen Israel carry out extensive operations against Palestinian Hamas leaders and other Resistance groups, remains a focal point of Araqchi's regional mission. Among those killed in recent Israeli airstrikes is Yahya Sinwar, a top leader of Hamas, underscoring the high stakes of the ongoing confrontation.

As Araqchi continues his regional tour, the international community watches closely, hoping these diplomatic engagements might lead to de-escalation and a resolution to the growing humanitarian crisis.