Zarif in Doha for Talks

EghtesadOnline: Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif traveled to Doha on Monday to meet Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his counterpart amid rising tensions in the Persian Gulf.

News ID: ۷۴۸۱۵۳

13 August 2019

The emir described ties between Iran and Qatar as “close” and “brotherly”, calling for increased consultations between the two sides to help find solutions to regional challenges.

In his meeting with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Zarif said ensuring the security of the Persian Gulf is the responsibility of regional states and not foreign forces, Financial Tribune reported.

"Military coalitions have already failed and foreign forces will cause insecurity in the region," he was quoted as saying by ISNA.

He was referring to the United States' proposal to set up an international naval mission in an attempt to protect free shipping in the Persian Gulf.

Washington has been lobbying allies and partners to form the coalition after it accused Iran in May of attacks on oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which almost one-fifth of the world's oil passes.

The UK said it would join the mission after a British-flagged vessel was detained by Iran for violating maritime regulations.

London had already seized an Iranian oil tanker in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar for the alleged breach of sanctions of Syria.

Israel will also most likely participate in the mission, despite warnings by Iran about the presence of its arch-foe in the region.

Zarif had already said in a tweet that the presence of foreign forces in the region would be a source of insecurity and Iran would not hesitate to protect its national security.

In his meeting with Qatari top diplomat, he stressed the need to carry on consultations between the two countries about regional developments.

The Qatari foreign minister highlighted the key role of Tehran and Doha in upholding peace and stability in the region and called for cooperation to encourage dialogue as a way to address regional issues.

Image of Insecurity

President Hassan Rouhani also had a phone conversation with Qatar's Emir on Sunday, in which he stressed Iran's wholehearted efforts to protect the security of Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Sea of Oman.

He said the American initiative is aimed at presenting an image of Persian Gulf insecurity to the world.

"These measures make regional issues more complicated and dangerous," he was quoted as saying by his website.

Stability and security of the region, according to Rouhani, can be attained through the cooperation of littoral states and within the framework of joint security missions.

"History has shown the world that foreign intervention has only escalated tensions and complicated the situation in the region," he said.

The emir of Qatar said Doha would spare no effort to help calm the situation.

"Security of the region should be ensured by littoral states and Qatar's stance in this regard is absolutely clear," he said.