Official: Iran pursues expansion of ties with Persian Gulf Arab neighbors

Doha, Apr 16, IRNA – Deputy interior minister for security and disciplinary affairs said here Tusday that expansion o ties with the Persian Gulf Arab neighbors is a fundamental policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Ali Abdollahi who is in Doha to participate in the first session of the Iran-Qatar Security Cooperation Committee (IQSCC) made the comment in a meeting with the Qatari Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani. The Iranian deputy interior minister referred to the two countriesˈ good level of cooperation especially between the Iranian and Qatari police and other disciplinary forces, reiterating that President Hassan Rouhaniˈs Prudence and Hope government continuously emphasizes the need for strengthening this cooperation with the regional countries. ˈThe Islamic Republic of Iran considers the development, advancement security of neighboring countries as its own,ˈ he added. The Qatari prime minister and interior minister, too, in the meeting referred to the tangible results of cooperation between the two countries coast guards and anti-narcotics police forces, as well as the activities of the Security Cooperation Joint Committee in evermore expansion of bilateral relations. Qatar has maintained cordial relations with Iran. In 1991, following the end of the Persian Gulf War, former emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa welcomed Iranian participation in Persian Gulf security arrangements, but due to resistance from other Persian Gulf Arab States these never came into fruition. However, Qatar maintains security cooperation with Iran through bilateral ties. Additionally, Doha plans were being formulated in 1992 to pipe water from the Karun River in Iran to Qatar, but after local resistance in Iran this was laid to rest.