FM Describes Iran’s Ties with Neighbors as Strategic
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s ties with its neighbors are strategic and Tehran intends to open a new chapter in its relations with all of them, said Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister after arriving in Kuwait, on Sunday.
Iranian foreign minister arrived in Kuwait’s capital, Kuwait City, for an official day-long visit to the country, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
Zarif said in Kuwait that Iran was determined to improve its relations with neighboring countries and to open a new page in ties with the Arab nations of the Persain Gulf region.
The top Iranian diplomat assured Arab states Sunday his country's nuclear deal with the West is in their interest. "The solution to this issue serves the interests of all countries in the region. It is not at the expense of any state in the region," Zarif said of the agreement reached between Iran and six major world powers on November 24 in Geneva.
"Be assured that the nuclear deal is in favor of the stability and security of the region," he added.
The next leg of the Iranian foreign minister's tour will take him to Muscat, Oman, where he will negotiate with top Omani officials on issues of mutual interest. He also confirmed plans to visit Saudi Arabia although no date has yet been set.
"We look at Saudi Arabia as an important and influential country in the region.... Through cooperation with Saudi Arabia, we can take steps towards improving regional security. We welcome positive steps by Saudi officials in this regard,” the Iranian minister stated.
“I will certainly travel to Saudi Arabia. The exact date of the trip has not been set so far, and we will wait to talk to our brothers in Saudi Arabia.”
Zarif had earlier said the Islamic Republic considers bilateral ties with its neighbors to be highly significant, stressing that the region belongs to all its countries.
“The region’s peace, progress and prosperity is also for all,” Zarif said at a meeting with Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan in Tehran on Thursday.
"We see every progress of the countries in the region as a success for ourselves and any sort of danger or threat to them as to ourselves,” the Iranian foreign minister stated.
