Iran’s FM: Cooperation mechanism among Persian Gulf states more necessary than ever
Iran’s foreign minister said setting up a joint mechanism for dialogue and cooperation among all countries in the Persian Gulf is more necessary than ever, as he wrapped up a three-day tour of Persian Gulf Arab neighbors.
While welcoming an initiative proposed by the UN chief about a meeting of the top diplomats of the Persian Gulf countries in New York, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian proposed the idea of forming a “Dialogue and Cooperation Assembly” with the participation of all Persian Gulf countries, the details of which will be presented to them in the near future.
Amir-Abdollahian noted that people of the Persian Gulf region deserve a better and more prosperous future and that Tehran is determined to redouble its efforts for this purpose.
He made the remarks in a message posted on his Instagram account after he wrapped up a three-day trip to the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait to improve relations with neighbors and secure the region.
He described the meetings with the countries’ officials as “positive and constructive”.
In the UAE on Thursday, he discussed “bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation” in a meeting with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.
He later met with his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.
The two top diplomats placed a premium on the need for the promotion of cooperation between the two neighbors as they discussed issues of mutual interest, regional developments, and expansion of bilateral relations.
Iran and the UAE also signed a major agreement to cooperate on air transport services.
The agreement will help Iran and the UAE expand their aviation connections in order to boost trade and tourism opportunities in the two countries.
“In the framework of economic and commercial cooperation, we will have very good news for our beloved nation and the people of these four countries in the future,” he said.
“The cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the countries on the southern coast of the Persian Gulf has entered a new chapter. In each of these countries, we have seriously put bilateral issues on our agenda,” he added.
The trip followed stops in Qatar, Kuwait and Oman – the latest in a flurry of diplomatic moves by Tehran to improve relations with neighbors and secure the region.