Jordan seeks to improve ties with Iran, particularly to help ensure security along its borders, according to a commentary published in the London-based Arabic-language Rai Al-Youm newspaper.
"The Jordanian government has taken small, calculated steps in secret to increase the level of relations with Iran, Qatar and Syria. Some political and parliamentary sources have confirmed the measures," the article said, ISNA reported.
The paper wrote that the brief meeting between President Hassan Rouhani and Jordan's King Abdullah II on the sidelines of a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul on May 18—which was the first encounter between the two countries' leaders in 15 years—was in line with Amman's rapprochement with Tehran.
The objective is to safeguard security along Jordan's border with southern Syria, the op-ed said, citing unnamed Jordanian political sources. Ray al-Youm said Iranian officials had reportedly assured the Arab kingdom that Iran respects its security.
It said Iran's ambassador to Jordan, Mojtaba Ferdosipour, has said in recent interviews that the Islamic Republic attaches importance to Jordan's security and stability and is keen to deepen understanding between the two states.
"Ferdosipour stated that Iranian forces are not present on the ground in southern Syria," the article read. Iran says its forces are in Syria in an advisory capacity.
In a recent interview with Jordan's Al Ghad daily, the ambassador said Iran is not involved militarily in the war-torn country.
"When I was appointed as ambassador to Jordan, Mr. Rouhani told me that Jordan's security is Iran's security, and we have been trying to preserve this security and increase our brotherly relations in all areas," he said, as cited by Fars News Agency. Ferdosipour said the two governments have common views on a number of regional and international issues, adding that both want to see the Syrian crisis settled through political means.
He hailed Jordan's support for the Palestinians after the United States relocated its embassy from Tel Aviv to Beit-ul-Moqaddas (Jerusalem). Rouhani on Thursday wrote a letter to Jordan's king, congratulating him on the anniversary of the kingdom's independence, calling for closer cooperation between the two nations.
"I hope through our concerted efforts we will witness the expansion of ties on bilateral and multilateral issues," the president said, according to his official website. Political observers say Jordan has decided to forge closer ties with Iran in light of the thaw in Israel-Saudi relations. King Abdullah is a pro-western monarch, but Amman's ties with Washington and Riyadh have recently been hurt over the issue of Palestine. Riyadh's reported warming up to Israel has worried Jordan, which is the custodian of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the major Muslim shrine complex in occupied Palestine.
