Iran Hails Qatar’s Decision to Restore Ambassador to Tehran

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi on Thursday confirmed to IRNA that Iranian and Qatari foreign ministers had a phone conversation on Wednesday night.

“The phone call was made last night, and the Qatari side expressed their interest in returning their ambassador to Tehran,” Qassemi said, adding that the Islamic Republic welcomes the Qatari government’s decision.

“Their ambassador had been recalled to Doha for certain consultations, and his return to Tehran is considered a logical and positive move and decision,” he went on to say.

“As we have repeatedly declared, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s principled policy has always been, and will be, the development of its relations with all neighbours,” Qassemi said.

“Iran always stands ready to have better ties with all its neighbours within the framework of mutual respect and maintenance of mutual interests,” he added.

“As the foreign ministry [Zarif] earlier declared, promoting cooperation and prioritizing the enhancement of all-out ties with neighbouring countries will be one of our basic or ‘super’ priorities in foreign policy during President Rouhani’s new term in office,” added the spokesman.

“Iran believes the only way to ensure security and stability and preparing the grounds for economic development in the region is the normalisation and promotion of relations between regional countries and the non-interference of ultra-regional states in the Middle East’s affairs,” he noted.

“Iran is prepared to make political efforts aimed at boosting interaction between these [regional] countries and settle certain ambiguities and problems between them,” Qassemi added.

“What the region needs today is cooperation among all parties, settlement of differences, and preparation of the grounds for further consultations and dialogue in this sensitive region of the world,” he went on to say.

Qassemi finally stressed that the Islamic Republic welcomes and appreciates any positive and constructive move by its neighbours aimed at improving and reinforcing bilateral relations.