Jordan Speaker Calls for Better Ties

The Jordanian Parliament speaker said his country should improve its relations with Iran and Syria. Referring to Iran and Syria, Atef Tarawneh said, "Jordan, without upsetting its relations with [Persian] Gulf countries, must consider expanding coalitions and relations with certain countries," ISNA reported on Monday. The recent US recognition of Beit-ul-Moqaddas met with the harsh criticism of Tehran and Amman, with some reports suggesting Saudi Arabia is bridling at the sight of the two countries on the same page. Riyadh has only expressed a superficial objection over the US decision on shifting its embassy in Israel to the holy city. Last week, an extraordinary session of the Palestinian Committee of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Member States was held in Tehran to send a united condemnation from the Muslim countries. The Saudis were conspicuous by their absence. Iranian Ambassador to Jordan Mojtaba Ferdosipour met Tarawneh in Amman at the weekend to present the invitation of Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani to attend a high-level parliamentary assembly in Tehran next month.