FM Downplays Differences between Iran, Arab Neighbors
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed satisfaction with his visits to a number of Iran’s Arab neighboring countries, saying that commonalities between Tehran and its neighbors outweigh the trivial differences.
“My meetings with leaders of Kuwait, Oman and Qatar demonstrated that what unites us is far greater than our minor differences,” Zarif said in his Twitter page on Monday, December 2.
The Iranian foreign minister is on a three-leg trip to the regional countries that earlier took him to Kuwait and Oman, where he met with the leaders of the two countries.
On his tour of the region, Zarif has discussed Tehran’s relations with its neighboring countries, as well as the regional developments and international issues.
Earlier on Sunday, upon arrival in Kuwait, the foreign minister described Iran’s ties with its neighbors as “strategic”, adding that Tehran intends to open a new chapter in its relations with the Arab nations of the Persian Gulf region.
Zarif's visit comes a week after Iran and six major world powers struck a landmark nuclear agreement in Geneva over Iran's nuclear program, which has been welcomed by Persian Gulf Arab states.
While in Kuwait on Sunday, Iranian foreign minister assured Arab states of the Persian Gulf region that his country's nuclear deal with the West was in their interest and also announced plans to visit Saudi Arabia.
"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... Be assured that the nuclear deal is in favour of the stability and security of the region," Zarif said.
On Monday, while still in Muscat, he urged Saudi Arabia to work together with Iran toward achieving peace and stability in the volatile region.
"I believe that our relations with Saudi Arabia should expand as we consider Saudi Arabia as an extremely important country in the region and the Islamic world," Zarif said.
"We believe that Iran and Saudi Arabia should work together in order to promote peace and stability in the region."