Qatar thanks Iran support for resolution of tension in region

EghtesadOnline: Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Saturday thanked Iran for supporting resolution of tension between Doha and some other Arab states of the region.

News ID: ۷۴۲۰۳۴

11 June 2017

Al Thani made the remarks after a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in the Russian capital, Moscow.

According to IRNA, the Qatari official called for resolution of all regional problems through dialogue.

He also thanked Russia efforts for resolution of tensions and noted that Doha will do its best to resolve tensions at the framework of Persian Gulf Cooperation Council.

According to the Russian Sputnik News Agency, Qatari foreign minister said in an interview with RT News Agency that Doha is interested in maintaining positive relations with Tehran.

Al Thani made the remarks amid the crisis in Qatar’s relations with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt which cut off ties with Doha on Monday after accusing it of supporting terrorism and destabilizing the Middle East.

'As far as our relations with Iran are concerned, everyone wants positive relations with Iran, Iran is a neighbor. The countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf have some disputes and concerns, but the strategic choice of all the countries is to maintain dialogue with Iran… and we, in the state of Qatar, support these efforts,' Al Thani said.

The diplomatic row came in the wake of the Qatar News Agency posting a speech attributed to Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in which he supported building relations with Iran.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry said that the agency's site was hacked and the speech was published by hackers that had nothing to do with the Qatari leader.