Iranian, Qatari Leaders And Chief Diplomats Hold Talks

Iran’s president and foreign minister held separate talks with Qatar’s Emir and foreign minister respectively on Saturday, discussing the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

President Ebrahim Raisi held a telephone call with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar. The two sides praised bilateral ties and discussed what the situation of Gaza, where Israel is preparing a ground offensive.

While the Iranian president accused Israel of genocide and condemned the United States for rendering support to the Jewish state, the Qatari Emir emphasized that without the realization of Palestinian rights there would be no stability in the region.

Iran foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Qatar, after a regional tour of Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. He held talks with Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani.

A video on social media also showed the Iranian foreign minister meeting Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar.

Qatar’s official news agency reported that Sheikh Jasem al Thani “stressed, during the meeting, the necessity of working towards an immediate ceasefire, protecting civilians and releasing prisoners, and the danger of the expansion of violence and the cycle of conflict in the region, which will have dire consequences if it expands.

The Iranian and Qatari official media did not provide more information about the details of discussion between the top leaders and chief diplomats of the two countries. Amir-Abdollahian earlier in Lebanon threatened that Iran’s proxy forces are ready to join the conflict.