Iranian migration to Bahrain can be traced back as early as the
Sassanid and
Achaemenid Persian Empire, though there has been a more constant level of migration in recent centuries, primarily that of Persian Shi'ites.
Pre-Islamic period From the 6th century BCE to the 3rd century BCE, Bahrain was an integral part of the
Persian Empire during the
Achaemenid dynasty. The
Greeks referred to it as "
Tylos," a hub for pearl trading, a name that emerged after
Nearchus discovered the island while serving under
Alexander the Great. From the 3rd century BCE to the 7th century CE, when it came under the influence of Islam, the island was controlled by two Iranian dynasties, the
Parthians and the
Sassanids. In the 3rd century CE, the Sassanids succeeded the Parthians and controlled the area for four centuries until the
Arab conquest. The contemporary Island of Bahrain was referred to as
Mishmahig, which in
Middle-Persian/Pahlavi it means "ewe-fish". Historians say that Bahrain was inhabited by
partially-Christianized Arabs,
Aramaic-speaking agriculturalists,
Persian Zoroastrians, and a small amount of
Jews.
Robert Bertram Serjeant, believes that the
Baharna () may be the last of the "descendants of converts from the original population of
Christians (
Aramaeans),
Jews and ancient
Zoroastrian Persians (Referred to as "
Majus" by Early Muslim Arabs) inhabiting the island and cultivated coastal provinces of
Eastern Arabia at the time of the Arab conquest." Islamic
narrations claim that Bahrain was predominantly a Zoroastrian country before the Arab conquest, and that
Mohammed took the
Jizya from them. The Bahraini population is said to have spoken
Syriac and Persian (likely
Parthian and
Middle "Pahlavi" Persian) at the time.
Modern migrations It is claimed that Persians settled in
Hormuz and
Bahrain during the
conflict between the Portuguese and the Persian Empire over control of Bahrain (1507 to 1625).
Qajar tribe. Waves of
famine,
cholera and
smallpox outbreaks as well as increased
crime rates accompanying drought led to a large-scale migration to Bahrain around 1850.
First generation (1860-1910) The period between 1860 and 1910 is considered the "first generation" migration by some. Many Ajams worked in the American Hospital. Other diseases such as smallpox and cholera also affected the island. These epidemics impacted all communities in Bahrain, including the Ajam population, who, as part of the country’s urban and coastal society, experienced the same demographic losses and social disruption. Bahrain was also among the earliest Gulf states to implement organized quarantine measures, including the “Karantina” isolation station at Halat Bu Maher. In 1904, anti-Persian rioting broke out in the markets of
Manama, marking the first recorded instance of local resistance against migrants in Bahrain. It is considered one of the earliest, if not the first, schools to be opened in Bahrain. Between 1910 and 1919, in the absence of state-run schools on the islands, some Bahrainis attended Al-Ittihad, contributing to the development of modern education in the region. Ajam/Iranian School (1950), third from right Habib Hussain Bushehri, first from left Kareem Agha Bushehri, sitting; Mohammed Hatel and Ali DashtiDuring Bahrain's political strife in the 1950s, many Gulf Iranians began accepting Bahraini citizenship, as well as citizenship in the United Arab Emirates. Some segments of the community reportedly severed ties with their country of origin. On 12 November 1957, Iran declared Bahrain
a province, with two parliamentary seats dedicated to it (in the early 1900s, one parliamentary seat was reserved for Bahrain). A year later, in 1958,
Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (ruler of Bahrain) pledged allegiance to Iran. In the 1960s,
the Shah turned his focus to
southern Iran. He initiated road and port construction projects in the region to generate employment and established
Persian language schools and hospitals both within Iran and in the
Persian Gulf Arab States to strengthen ties between Iranian expatriates and their homeland. Additionally, the Shah significantly expanded Iran's military and weapons arsenal, emphasizing military service as a means of contributing to the state and demonstrating good citizenship. At 12:50 p.m. on March 26, 1970, London Radio announced that both Britain and Iran had submitted a request to the Secretary-General of the United Nations to send a representative from the international organization to survey the opinion of the people of Bahrain as to whether they wish to remain under British Protectorate or to have Independence or be part of Iran. In 2002, Bahraini's King,
Hamad Bin Isa, visited Iran and met with Mohammad Khatami and
Iran's Supreme Leader,
Ali Khamenei, which marked the first visit since the 1979 revolution, on the same year, he announced many of the Ajams of Bahrain as Bahraini citizens and granted them citizenships. He was gererally very welcoming of the Ajams, regardless of their background or ethnic group. In 2003,
Khatami visited Bahrain which marked the first visit of an Iranian president to Bahrain since 25 years, Khatami gave a lecture in the Arabic language at the Gulf Hotel in
Manameh. Musa Al-Ansari recounts: "I do not know why the revolution took this character in Bahrain. The fanaticism that exists in Bahrain does not exist in Iran. In Iran, you will see people listening to music and songs, women in half-veils laughing in the street. Here you are an infidel if you listen to a cassette or hear singing. Bahrain is a completely different situation." In 2024, Bahrain restored diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, however, any attempts to restore relations with Iran were sabotaged following their 2026 attacks on Bahrain. The Ajams of Bahrain are now a largely
secular, inclusive people. == Issues ==