Iranian foreign minister in Qatar visit amid Gulf crisis

It is Zarif’s first visit to Doha since the Arab quartet cut ties with Qatar

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Qatar yesterday, officials said, for talks on relations between Tehran and Doha that have caused tensions in the Gulf.

Zarif left Tehran yesterday morning for Oman and headed to Doha in the afternoon, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Gassemi said.

It was his first visit to Doha since Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut ties with Qatar in June over its backing for terrorism and fostering of ties with Iran.

Regional issues

Zarif met Qatar’s Emir Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Qatari Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammad Bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani. Gassemi said talks would focus on relations in the Gulf, economic cooperation and the latest developments in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

Qatar said in August it was restoring full diplomatic relations with Iran.

Doha along with other Gulf states had pulled its ambassador from Tehran in January 2016 following attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran, spurred by Riyadh’s decision to execute a Shiite cleric in the kingdom. Oman has traditionally had closer ties with Iran than its neighbours.