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Zarif in Doha to Normalize Relations with the Gulf | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani meets Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (KUNA)


Doha – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks Wednesday with the emir of Qatar on his first visit to the Gulf state since July 2015.

Zarif and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani discussed “regional developments” and bilateral relations, QNA state news agency said.

QNA reported that the Emir stressed Qatar’s commitment to establish good ties with all its neighboring countries to promote security and stability in the region.

He stressed in this regard the need for GCC-Iranian ties to be based on mutual respect, and the non-interference in the sovereign affairs of other countries, in line with the international law.

He added that settling any disputes should be made through negotiations and dialogue, according to QNA.

For his part, the Iranian foreign minister expressed hope for further development of bilateral ties in the future. He added that Iran was looking forward to cooperating with Qatar to find solutions to many of the regional issues and establish security and stability in the region.

Tasnim news agency said Zarif also met his Qatari counterpart during the trip to Doha.

Qatar and two other Gulf Arab states recalled their envoys from Tehran in January 2016 in solidarity with Saudi Arabia after Iranian protesters torched the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain cut diplomatic relations with Iran.

However, in a move to defuse tension with the Arab States, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani visited Kuwait and Oman last month in his first trip to the region since taking power in 2013.

An Iranian diplomat in Doha, who declined to be named, told Reuters that Zarif discussed on Wednesday with Qatar how to “better ties” between the two countries. Qatar has yet to reinstate its ambassador to Iran.