Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani expressed his gratitude over Iran's support for his country during embargo imposed by some Arab nations.

Iran Press/ Middle East: Speaking in the Munich Security Conference on Sunday, Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that after the embargo, we desperately needed Flight and commercial route, so Iranians opened their borders and space to our planes and we are thankful to them.

According to Iran Press news agency, he continued to say that Iran is our neighbor and we have shared borders and underground resources; if there is difference with Iran, it should be solved through the dialogue

In another event, related to Iran and Qatar relations, in “Qatar: Ally or Strategic Threat” conference in Washington, Members of the US Congress and other American officials sharply denounced Qatar recently, citing Doha’s alignment with Iran and alleged support of terrorist groups.

Charles Wald, a retired US Air Force general who was deputy commander of US military operations in Europe, said at the forum that Qatar made a mistake in aligning with Iran.

“I think Qatar has to choose. They have to decide if they’re going to be aligned with traditionally GCC Western countries or if they want to align themselves with Iran. You’re dancing with the devil when you start working with Iran,” Wald said referring to the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Qatari FM said that the "Palestinian issue is at the base of our relations with Israel. We will continue supporting Gaza's residents."

The Qatari prime minister also referenced the Warsaw summit, at which representatives from 60 nations gathered to discuss regional issues. Neither Iran nor the Palestinians were represented. “If there is a problem with Iran, for example, then Iran needs to be at the table. The core issue of the Middle East instability and insecurity is the Palestinian-Israeli conflict".

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Al Thani also said: "Qatar is rather trying to put an end to the Humanitarian crisis in Gaza in ways known to all."

"Some territories have been liberated, but ISIS or terrorism is not defeated yet, because the ideology is still there. The people are still there. The main causes of this violence, of this crisis, are never addressed as well," Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said on terrorism issue in the region.

The Qatari FM continued by saying that Doha remains open to a dialogue to resolve the crisis in relations with its Gulf neighbors.

"Qatar remains open if there are any efforts to resolve the issue. Qatar always called for dialogue, Qatar always called the other GCC [Persian Gulf Cooperation Council] countries, the blocking state leaders to come and to sit around the table and to understand what are the reasons behind all this," Al-Thani stated.

In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt severed diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism, a charge that Doha denies. Iran and Turkey help wealthy Qatar thrive.

Commerce between Iran and Qatar is increasing, Tehran said recently that trade had risen by $250 million in the 12 months to March as Doha becomes more reliant upon Iranian imports such as food products. 212/103

 

 

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