Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif holds talks with Qatari emir on bilateral ties, Mideast issues

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (L) meets with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Doha on March 8, 2017.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has met and held talks with the Qatari emir on bilateral relations as well as regional developments.

Zarif, who is in Doha for a one-day visit, and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani discussed the promotion of trade and economic ties. They also exchanged views on regional conflicts and common concerns.

The Iranian top diplomat also met his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani.

During the meeting, Zarif underlined the need for further promotion of Tehran-Doha ties, especially in the sectors of economy, banking and joint investment.

The Qatari official, for his part, described his country’s relations with Iran as amicable.

We have always believed that Iran and the Persian Gulf Arab countries can have good ties, al-Thani said, adding that his country favors such a policy.

Zarif’s visit to Qatar comes amid efforts to improve ties between Persian Gulf Arab countries and Iran after relations between Tehran and some of the Arab countries of the strategic region became tense when Saudi Arabia unilaterally severed its diplomatic ties with Iran.

On January 25, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Hamad al-Sabah paid a visit to Iran to deliver Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah's message to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Last month, Rouhani paid a visit to Oman and Kuwait to hold talks on bilateral and regional developments.

In Muscat, he met with Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said and discussed the promotion of ties.  

During a meeting with Kuwait's emir in Kuwait City, Rouhani stressed that the two countries have close political ties and that their economic relations must follow suit.