Bahrain and Iran have agreed to explore the possibility of renewing diplomatic ties after more than eight years of strained relations, their foreign ministries announced in a joint press release on Monday.

The statement came after a meeting between acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayan at the Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit in Tehran.

According to the joint announcement, “The two sides agreed to establish the necessary mechanisms to start talks between the two countries to examine the resumption of political ties.”