Iranian Speaker Urges Negotiated Solution to Regional Conflicts
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani reiterated the call for the settlement of crises in the region through talks and without any foreign interference.
In a meeting with Qatar’s outgoing ambassador to Tehran, Larijani denounced the blockade on Qatar imposed by Saudi Arabia and a number of its allies, stressing that “all regional issues must be resolved through dialogue and consultation.”
“Moreover, the powers from outside the region should not be allowed to interfere and hatch plots against the governments and nations (of the region),” the Iranian speaker added.
For his part, the Qatari diplomat praised Iran for supporting his country under Saudi sanctions and blockade, expressing optimism about the expansion of Tehran-Doha ties in future.
In August 2017, Doha decided to send its ambassador back to Tehran, more than 20 months after he was recalled, and strengthen relations with Tehran amid a diplomatic rift between Qatar and several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain.
The Arab countries allied with Saudi Arabia blame Doha for interfering in the domestic affairs of other states and sponsoring terrorism, an accusation Qatar has rejected as “groundless”.
The diplomatic crisis, the worst since the 1990 invasion of Kuwait by Iraq and the subsequent Persian Gulf War, has seen the Arab nations cut ties to Qatar, which hosts a major US military base and will be the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Doha has been receiving fresh food supplies from Iran, which has also allowed Qatar’s national carrier to use its airspace.
