FM Zarif says Iran welcomes Kuwait statement on resolving Persian Gulf row

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Tehran welcomes a statement by mediator Kuwait in resolving a persisting diplomatic row in the Persian Gulf, expressing hope that the reconciliation will contribute to the stability as well as the political and economic development of the regional nations.

“We welcome understandings in the Persian Gulf announced by Kuwait. Iran's longstanding policy is diplomacy, good neighborly relations & regional dialogue,” said Iran’s top diplomat on his official Twitter account on Friday.

Zarif added, “We hope reconciliation contributes to stability and political & economic development for all peoples of our region.”

He also posted the Arabic version of the same tweet on his account.

Back in June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Egypt severed diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar. They also banned all Qatari planes from their airspaces, accusing Doha of meddling in regional affairs and supporting “terrorism.”

Qatar has repeatedly condemned the decision as unjustified and the allegations as based on false claims and assumptions, saying it was targeted because it followed an independent foreign policy. Doha has since highlighted its readiness for dialogue.

A number of regional and international attempts were made in lifting the diplomatic, trade and travel embargo against Qatar and resolving the row, but all to no avail.

However, Kuwait, as a mediator in resolving the ongoing crisis, hosted talks between the Saudi-led quartet and Qatar, and earlier on Friday described the talks as “constructive and fruitful.”

“Fruitful discussions have taken place recently in which all sides expressed their keenness for [the Persian] Gulf and Arab unity and stability, and to reach a final agreement that realizes lasting solidarity,” said Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser al-Sabah in a statement read out on Kuwait national television.

He also thanked White House senior adviser Jared Kushner for his “recent efforts.”

Following the statement, Qatar’s Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani thanked Kuwait for its mediation, saying “the Kuwaiti statement is an imperative step towards resolving” the ongoing crisis in the Persian Gulf.

Hours before the Kuwait statement, the Qatari diplomat had said that there was “a movement” that Doha hoped to put an end to the crisis.   

“We believe the end of the crisis is important for the security of the region and for the sake of our people. This crisis needs to end based on mutual respect and the rights of all people of the [Persian] Gulf,” he added.

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Saudi Arabia, for its part, responded to the Kuwait statement and said a resolution to the bitter dispute with Qatar seemed “within reach.”

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said in a statement that they had made “significant progress in the last few days” to end the crisis.

“We hope this progress can lead to a final agreement which looks within reach and I can say I am somewhat optimistic that we are close to finalizing an agreement between all the nations in the dispute,” the top Saudi diplomat added.

However, the other three states blockading Qatar – Bahrain, Egypt, and the UAE – did not immediately acknowledge any progress.

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