Raisi Invited to Visit Qatar

Qatar is determined to do all in its power to improve its level of relations with Iran in various political and economic sectors, its foreign minister said in a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.  
“The Emir of Qatar is pursuing the process of expanding ties between the two countries in person,” Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Thursday in Tehran, where he also delivered an invitation from the Qatari emir to Raisi to attend a summit of Gas Exporting Countries Forum, President.ir reported. 
The Iranian president pointed to capacities for Tehran-Doha cooperation in political, economic and cultural sectors, expressing Iran’s readiness to exploit all the potential for bilateral and regional collaboration for the benefits of both nations.
He highlighted his administration’s top foreign policy priority, which is to expand ties with regional and neighboring countries, adding that such cooperation is in the interest of peace, security and progress of regional nations. 

“Deepening relations and collaboration among neighboring states can provide security,” he said. 
Stressing the importance of multilateral mechanisms to ensure security, especially in the energy sector, he said it is essential to maintain and enhance coordination in the energy policies of producing countries.
Raisi also said that the presence of foreigners in West Asia increases insecurity and concerns. 
“Foreigners do not respect the identity and character of nations and governments of the region and think they are sheriffs of the world,” he said. 
This is while they must abandon their spirit of arrogance and self-importance and recognize other nations’ identity and culture, according to the president. 
Al Thani said Doha agrees with Tehran in that foreign forces have a negative impact in this region. 
“We believe regional countries must rely on regional cooperation on their path to peace and progress,” he said. 
The Qatari top diplomat earlier met his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, where they discussed bilateral ties as well as the latest regional and international developments, such as those in Afghanistan and Yemen. 
“The speed of developments in the region and the world necessitates closer consultation between Iran and Qatar and efforts to restore peace and stability in Yemen and Afghanistan,” Amir-Abdollahian said. 
He especially pointed to recent military provocations in Yemen, warning that it could regenerate war both in the Arab country and the wider region and ruin peace efforts. 
Al Thani expressed concern about new tension in the region, saying Doha continues to believe the Yemeni crisis has no military solution and they must find a way out through dialogue. 
“This situation is in the interest of neither side,” he said.