Iran’s foreign minister in Qatar for talks on ties
Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was due to visit Qatar yesterday, a ministry spokesman said, for talks on relations between Tehran and Doha that have caused tensions in the Arabian Gulf.
Mr Zarif left Tehran yesterday morning for Oman and was to head to Doha in the afternoon, said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi.
It will be Mr Zarif’s first visit to Doha since the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar in June, accusing it of backing extremism and fostering ties with Iran.
On his arrival in Muscat, Mr Zarif was met by Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Oman’s minister for foreign affairs.
Topics of discussion between the officials included the wars in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, said Iran’s semi-official Isna news agency.
Mr Zarif called Oman’s relations with Iran exemplary anfd said: “We also live in a very difficult neighbourhood and we want to engage in continuous consultation.”
Traditionally, Oman has had closer relations with Iran than its neighbours and has maintained relations with Qatar throughout its dispute with other Arab countries.
In Qatar, Mr Zarif is to meet the emir, Sheikh Tamim Al Thani and foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani.
Mr Ghassemi said talks would focus on relations in the Gulf, economic co-operation and developments in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
Speaking in Paris last week, Qatar’s foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed said moves by Qatar’s rivals, including the cutting of trade and transport links, were pushing Doha into closer ties with Tehran.
Qatar said in August it was restoring full diplomatic relations with Iran. Doha, along with other Arab Gulf states, had recalled its ambassador from Tehran in January last year after attacks by protesters on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran.
The protesters were angry at Riyadh’s decision to execute Shiite cleric Nimr Al Nimr.