Relationship dossier
Iran
Maldives
Relationship assessment
Maldives–Iran ties experienced a diplomatic rupture and later restoration
Iran toward Maldives
Not assessedMaldives toward Iran
-15The Maldivian government severed diplomatic relations with Iran in 2016, citing concerns about Iran’s regional policies, and restored relations in 2019.
Overall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Maldives severed diplomatic relations with Iran in 2016 amid concerns about Iran’s regional policies, then restored relations in 2019. These actions indicate a period of serious friction followed by renewed diplomatic engagement. Information about other concrete bilateral cooperation and Iran’s government conduct toward the Maldives is insufficient to assess the relationship fully.
Areas of tension
- Maldivian concerns about Iran’s regional policies, which preceded the 2016 break in diplomatic relations.
Key developments
The Maldives severed diplomatic relations with Iran amid concerns about Iran’s regional policies.
The Maldives restored diplomatic relations with Iran.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of bilateral cooperation after diplomatic relations were restored is unclear.
- The specific grounds and policy effects of the Maldives’ 2016 decision are unclear.