Iran, Qatar Move to Broaden Economic Ties


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran and Qatar, at the conclusion of a meeting of the Joint Economic Commission, signed a memorandum of understanding to expand economic cooperation.

Iranian and Qatari delegations wrapped up the seventh meeting of the Joint Economic Cooperation Commission in Iran’s central city of Isfahan on Tuesday.

According to an MoU signed at the end of the meeting, Tehran and Doha would further enhance their economic cooperation.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said the meeting was held with a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The session was scheduled to be held (some time) in the past months and to be attended by a large number of economic activists of both countries, but unfortunately, due to the outbreak of the virus and the restrictions imposed on travel and holding gatherings accordingly, the seventh meeting of the two countries’ joint economic cooperation commission was held on a limited scale,” said the minister.

“After the US, Britain and France, the Qatari government sent its commercial attaché to Iran, and today, Iran is the fourth country where Qatar has sent its commercial attaché to boost commercial ties, which means the two countries are seriously determined to promote their cooperation on different fronts,” he said, according to the government’s website.

The minister said Qatar has gone through difficult times recently, and at the same time, Iran has been facing an economic war launched by enemies, making mutual economic cooperation all the more significant.

He also noted that the two sides can work together in the areas of water, technical and engineering services, energy and transportation.