Bahrain: From Persian Gulf Outpost to Independent Isle

Thus, it was in 1971 that Bahrain formally separated from any remaining, albeit nominal, Iranian claim and British protection, becoming a fully independent sovereign state. This decision, though accepted by the Shah at the time, has remained a point of contention and historical reinterpretation in Iran, particularly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Hardline elements in Iran have periodically renewed claims on Bahrain, viewing the Shah's decision as a "betrayal" and reiterating the historical narrative of Bahrain as a lost Iranian province, fueling ongoing geopolitical tensions between the two nations.