Persian Gulf Shia Populations Rally against American-Israeli Campaign against Iran

June 22, 2025, 0930

Pro-Khamenei rally in the streets of Bahrain

Executive Summary

The Israeli airstrikes on Iran's nuclear and military facilities, beginning on June 13, 2025, followed by U.S. airstrikes on key Iranian nuclear sites (Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan) on June 22, 2025, have triggered a wave of protests among Bahrain’s Shia majority. These demonstrations reflect growing solidarity with Iran, as Bahrain’s Shia community voices its opposition to the attacks. The Bahraini authorities, keen to maintain stability, have increased security measures to manage these expressions of dissent, given the kingdom’s strategic alignment with the United States and its history of addressing internal unrest.

 These demonstrations, met with heightened security measures by Bahrain’s Sunni-led government, signal a potential for internal unrest in the kingdom, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, a critical American interest. The unrest in Bahrain could inspire Shia minority communities in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province and Kuwait to protest, aligning with Iran’s call for region-wide Shia action against Israel and the U.S. This strategy aims to divert military pressure from Iran’s nuclear program and the Islamic Republic’s survivability. While these communities have historically shared sectarian ties with Iran, their ability to mobilize may be constrained by strong governmental oversight in both kingdoms.

Key developments include forceful statements of allegiance to Iran's Supreme Leader from Bahrain's Shia religious leadership, systematic government suppression of pro-Iran solidarity, and the emergence of organized resistance networks. Shia communities also

possess critical capabilities to threaten US interests, including insider access to military bases, cross-border coordination networks, and strategic positioning near vital oil infrastructure.

This emerging trend aligns with Iran’s broader call for unified Shia action against the United States and Israel. Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have framed the attacks as a threat to the broader Shia community and the Islamic regime. By encouraging region-wide Shia mobilization, Iran appears to be seeking to alleviate military pressure on its nuclear program and the Islamic Republic itself. This strategy aims to create sufficient regional unrest to compel the U.S. and Israel to reconsider their military campaign against Iran’s nuclear ambitions and, by extension, its ruling regime.

Bahrain Cracks Down on Pro-Iran Demonstrations as Shia Opposition Voices Support

Following the Israeli airstrikes on Iran's nuclear and military facilities starting June 13, 2025, and the subsequent U.S. airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites (Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan) on June 22, 2025, Bahrain's Shia opposition groups have expressed strong support for Iran. Posts on X indicate that Bahraini citizens, particularly from the Shia majority, have taken to the streets to condemn Israel's actions, with opposition forces explicitly stating their solidarity with Iran.

Bahrain's authorities have intensified efforts to suppress pro-Iranian solidarity demonstrations. At the same time, the kingdom's Shia opposition leaders have issued strong statements backing Iran after the Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Unrest in Bahrain is expected to grow following the USAF attack on key nuclear facilities.

Bahrain blocks pro-Iran demonstrations near the U.S., UK, and Israeli embassies.

Security Crackdown on Protests

Bahraini security forces have reportedly blocked planned pro-Iran demonstrations across the kingdom, according to opposition media reports from June 20. Authorities significantly increased security presence throughout the country, particularly around the US, Israeli, and UK embassies in Manama, to prevent organized protests.

Bahrain's authorities have intensified efforts to suppress pro-Iran demonstrations. The Bahraini government, a close U.S. ally hosting the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, has historically cracked down on Shia-led protests, particularly since the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. Heightened security measures, including restrictions on public gatherings and increased surveillance of Shia activists, were implemented to prevent the escalation of unrest. The U.S. Embassy in Manama issued a security alert on June 13, 2025, advising personnel and American citizens to exercise caution and limit non-essential travel due to the regional tensions, indicating concerns about potential unrest in Bahrain.

Despite the heavy security measures, dozens of protesters managed to stage pro-Iran rallies following Friday (June 20) noon prayers in several areas. Demonstrators carried banners supporting Iran and displayed anti-Israel slogans, including messages reading "Death to Israel, death to America" in Arabic.

The Islamic Resistance in Bahrain  (IRB )reported that authorities had stepped up their security deployment specifically to counter planned demonstrations supporting Iran's position in the current regional conflict. Hundreds of security personnel cordoned off several areas: Ras Rumman (near the UK Embassy), Bilad al-Qadeem (near the US Embassy), and Karbabad (near the Israeli Embassy)—all of which were identified as launch points for the planned demonstrations. These protests were organized by youth groups and supported by Bahraini opposition movements.

According to the IRB, despite the heavy security presence, demonstrations did take place. Dozens of citizens rallied in the villages of al-Dir and Samaheej after Friday noon prayers, expressing support for Iran. Later in the afternoon, another protest occurred in al-Maqshaa, west of Manama.

Arrest Campaign Targets Digital Activists

The crackdown has extended to digital spaces, with authorities arresting a young Bahraini content creator who posted a video showing the distribution of pictures of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during Eid al-Ghadir celebrations.

The arrested individual's video also included messages of solidarity with Iran's response to Israeli attacks. His detention followed an incitement campaign by Bahraini writer Sawsan al-Shaer, who published a commentary in the daily Al-Watan newspaper titled "They are not children." Al-Shaer criticized the video showing youth pledging allegiance to Khamenei, describing it as "a disease" and accusing those behind it of "provoking the Bahraini people."

Opposition Leadership Voices Strong Support

Amid the government crackdown, Bahrain's Shia opposition leaders have issued forceful statements backing Iran. Sheikh Hussein Al-Dihi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Al-Wefaq opposition movement, declared unwavering support for the Islamic Republic and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, emphasizing solidarity with Iran's leadership and people.

Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, Bahrain's most senior Shia religious authority, condemned what he termed "blatant Israeli aggression" against Iran in a statement released on June 15. Qassim characterized the attacks as coming from "a vile entity known for aggression and violation of human rights and international norms," backed by what he called "an arrogant superpower seeking to dominate the world."

"An arrogant superpower seeking to dominate the world."

The religious leader declared that silence in the face of aggression against Iran constitutes support for injustice, arguing that the Islamic Republic represents "a solid pillar of the nation." He dismissed "theoretical condemnation" from capable governments as insufficient and praised Iran's response as demonstrating courage and unwavering faith.

Broader Pattern of Suppression

The recent arrests form part of a broader campaign against domestic solidarity with Iran and Gaza. Security forces have conducted raids targeting activists, including the arrest of Munir Mashimaa, as part of what opposition sources describe as systematic efforts to suppress expressions of support for Iranian and Palestinian causes.

Opposition media characterized the government's actions as "repression of the popular voice that is supportive of Iran," highlighting the tension between public sentiment among Bahrain's Shia majority population and the Sunni-led monarchy's regional alignments.

Regional Implications

The developments underscore the deepening sectarian tensions within Bahrain, where the government faces the challenge of managing domestic Shia sympathies for Iran while maintaining strategic alliances with the United States and regional security partnerships. The authorities' response demonstrates their determination to prevent any domestic expression of support for Iran from gaining momentum within the kingdom.

The contrast between the vocal support from Shia religious leadership and the Sunni government's suppression of public demonstrations reflects the broader regional polarization following recent escalations, with Bahrain's Shia community firmly aligning with Iran despite facing systematic government repression.

Iran, for its part, possesses significant capabilities to destabilize Bahrain, leveraging its influence over local Shiite opposition groups and Tehran-backed terrorist cells operating within the kingdom. These networks, supported by Iranian funding and supervision, remain active despite Bahraini countermeasures.. In a broader escalation, Iran could target strategic infrastructure in Bahrain with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, and activate its Shia proxies' sleeper cells.

With the United States now actively involved in military operations against Iran, the protests against Sunni authorities could expand beyond Bahrain to other Gulf states, particularly in Shia-concentrated areas of Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province and Kuwait's urban centers, creating broader regional instability for US-aligned Gulf monarchies facing increasingly restive Shia populations.

Bahrain’s Shia opposition has actively condemned the Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran, with protests reflecting deep sectarian ties. Bahraini authorities are likely to continue suppressing these demonstrations to prevent unrest, given the kingdom’s strategic alignment with the U.S. and its history of quelling Shia dissent. While Iraq’s Shia communities are already protesting and could escalate further, other Persian Gulf Shia populations (in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE) are less likely to join due to government controls and smaller Shia demographics.

Shia communities in these countries may attempt to target American military installations or provide intelligence assistance to Iran for such operations. The Shia populations possess several potential capabilities for such activities, including insider access through employment at US bases and strategic facilities, established networks through religious and tribal connections that cross national boundaries, knowledge of local infrastructure and security arrangements, and potential coordination with Iran-backed groups already operating in the region. Additionally, their concentration in areas near critical oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province and Kuwait's industrial zones could provide opportunities for economic pressure tactics against Western interests.