From Territorial Dispute to Diplomatic Partnership

While 1971 was the year of independence, the 1975 visit by Emir Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa to Tehran was the visual confirmation of this friendship. It was a lavish affair. The Emir was greeted with full military honors, signaling that Iran viewed him not as a provincial leader, but as a fellow sovereign monarch. This visit cemented agreements on continental shelf boundaries and maritime security.