The decision was a partial victory for human rights groups and lawmakers who argued that it was hypocritical of the U.S. to sell the arms to Bahrain so soon after President Barack Obama condemned the monarchy’s violent crackdown on protesters earlier this year and called for democratic reforms.
The State Department notified Congress last month of plans to sell $53 million in arms to Bahrain, including more than 40 armored Humvees and 300 missiles. Last week, several prominent U.S. senators criticized the deal and asked the State Department to put any sales on hold.
A spokesman for Bahrain’s embassy in Washington said the proposed arms were meant to help Bahrain defend against "serious external threats."
"We will continue to discuss the issues of security, stability and human rights with our American partners," said Saqer Al-Khalifa, the embassy’s media attaché. "The government of Bahrain is committed to safeguarding the rights of its citizens and continuing the process for reform in the country."
Doctors, along with politicians and journalists, were among those allegedly targeted by the government in the aftermath of the uprising earlier in the year that left about 30 people dead.
Under international pressure, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa set up an independent commission in July to probe human rights abuses during the unrest.
Shiites make up around 70% of the population in Bahrain and have long campaigned for better jobs and greater political rights in the Sunni-ruled kingdom.
"The department will review the commission’s findings carefully and assess the government of Bahrain’s efforts to implement the recommendations and make needed reforms," Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs David Adams said in a letter this week to Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat.
"We will weigh these factors and confer with Congress before proceeding with additional steps related to the recently notified arms sale," Mr. Adams added in the letter, which was obtained Tuesday by the Wall Street Journal.
Congressional officials could not estimate how long the review would take or what impact it would have on the proposed sale. The kingdom’s embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment late Tuesday.
U.S. lawmakers had introduced resolutions in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to try to prevent the U.S. government from completing the planned sale. But congressional aides had said they did not expect the resolutions to pass.
While President Barack Obama and other U.S. officials have criticized the mass arrests and pushed for democratic reforms, the administration has moved in recent months to patch up ties with Bahrain, underlining its strategic importance as the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and as a bulwark against Iran.
In the letter to Mr. Wyden, Mr. Adams said the U.S. continues to "urge the government of Bahrain to hold accountable those who have committed human rights violations, implement needed reforms, and engage its citizens and be responsive to their aspirations."
In addition to Mr. Wyden, opponents of the proposed arms sale in the Senate included Democratic Sens. Richard Durbin of Illinois, Benjamin Cardin of Maryland, Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania. Mr. Durbin is the assistant Democratic leader in the Senate.
