Iran’s Zarif, EU’s Mogherini Discuss Regional Issues

TEHRAN (defapress) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini held talks on a range of issues, the latest developments in the Middle East region in particular.

News ID: 65136

Date: 06 June 2017 - 15:29

In a telephone conversation on Monday, Zarif and Mogherini exchanged views about regional issues, including a recent move by several Arab states to sever diplomatic relations with Qatar.

The Iranian top diplomat also held separate telephone conversations with Iraq’s Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, and Foreign Minister of Kuwait Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah to discuss Qatar diplomatic row.

Zarif also spoke with the foreign ministers of Qatar, Lebanon, Tunisia, Malaysia, and Algeria, separately.

The talks came after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain and the Maldives and a number of others cut off diplomatic ties with the Doha government, saying they will suspend air, sea and land transport with Qatar.

The Saudi kingdom made the announcement early on Monday, saying it was taking action for what it called the protection of national security.

Riyadh has accused Qatar of "harboring a multitude of terrorist and sectarian groups that aim to create instability in the region".

Qatar said there is "no legitimate justification" for cutting diplomatic ties.

"For us, the strategic choice of the state of Qatar is to solve any dispute through dialogue," Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said.