Iranian-Qatari Talks on Gulf Maritime Security

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday that his country “attaches a great importance” to maintaining regional security, especially in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman.

Rouhani’s stance was made during a phone conversation with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

“Iran has put all its effort in this regard and believes that maintaining security in this region guarantees the development of the region, as well as the interests of its peoples,” Rouhani said.

Iran’s IRNA news agency said on Sunday that the Emir exchanged greetings with Rouhani on the advent of Eid al-Adha during a phone call.

It quoted Rouhani as stressing that the security and stability of the Gulf could only be realized through cooperation and synergy of its littoral states in the form of joint security measures.

“The experience of this reality has proved it to everybody that foreign intervention has only made the problems more complicated and increased tensions,” he said.

IRNA also quoted the Qatari Emir as telling Rouhani that Doha would spare no efforts to de-escalate tension in the region.

“The security of the region must only be ensured by its littoral states, and the stances of the Qatari government is this regard is completely clear; we want to deepen our cooperation with Iran for better bilateral relations and regional security,” he said.

Before calling the Emir, Rouhani telephoned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and expressed his desire to enhance relations with Ankara.

“Iran is fully ready to deepen ties with Turkey as a friendly and brotherly country,” the president’s official website quoted Rouhani as saying.

For his part, Erdogan said: “Ankara is ready to further promote relations with Tehran in all fields.”

The Iranian Foreign Ministry also said in a brief statement that Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif flew to Doha for talks with Qatari officials.