Qatar-Iran relations based on mutual respect: Iranian envoy
QATAR can play the role of mediator between Iran and other regional countries to remove the misunderstandings and to resolve the issues between them, Iran’s ambassador to Qatar HE Hamid Reza Dehghani has said. In an exclusive interview with Qatar Tribune, the Iranian envoy lauded the role of Qatar in handling several challenges wisely with patience.
“Qatar-Iran relations are based on mutual respect, common culture and common belief. Our relations are much above than trade relations,” the envoy said, adding that regional countries can resolve all the issues through talks.
QATAR is in a strong position to play the role of a mediator between Iran and other regional countries to resolve their misunderstandings and to solve the issues between them, Ambassador of Iran to Qatar HE Hamid Reza Dehghani has said.
In an exclusive interview with Qatar Tribune and the first one to be granted to any English newspaper since his arrival in Qatar around three months ago, Ambassador Dehghani said Iran strongly believes that regional countries can resolve any misunderstanding among them through mutual discussions without involving any external power. He urged the countries in the region to move forward together on points of common interests for the betterment and development of the region.
He stressed the need to settle any regional issues through a roundtable dialogue.
The envoy lauded the role of the leadership and people of Qatar in handling the various challenges that the country faced in recent times.
He said that Qatar not only turned the challenges into opportunity to develop and strengthen its food sector but also appeared on the world stage and established its position as a mature nation.
He said Iran’s support to Qatar during the times was of “a friend in need is a friend indeed”.
“Qatar-Iran relations are based on mutual respect, common culture and common belief. Our relations are much more than trade relations,” he noted.
On the recent visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to Iran, Ambassador Dehghani said it was a friendly visit to discuss issues of mutual interests.
Talking about the recent National Day of Iran celebrating the 1979 Revolution, the envoy said Iranian people believe they are free from all external pressures in their decision making about their country’s policies and development, and as an Islamic republic. He said that in line with Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health’s precautionary measures for COVID-19, the Embassy of Iran cancelled all the celebrations this year.
Ambassador Dehghani, who is a poet with deep interest in Persian literature and culture, said that as soon as the COVID-19 situation gets better and concerned authorities permit, the embassy will arrange various cultural events.
Before becoming ambassador to Qatar, Dehghani has served in the Office of the Foreign Minister of Iran as head of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region affairs, ambassador to Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), head of Middle East Research and Studies Center, Iran; and as diplomat in Lebanon and Syria.