WANA (Feb 20) – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening regional ties during a meeting with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his delegation in Tehran.

 

“Expanding relations with neighboring countries is a definitive policy of the Islamic Republic,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated, highlighting that President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration has also prioritized this approach.

 

“Thanks to God, significant progress has been made in this regard, and Foreign Minister Araghchi has been actively engaged in advancing these efforts,” he added.

 

The Supreme Leader hoped that agreements reached in Tehran would benefit both nations and further reinforce their responsibilities as neighbors.

 

Addressing regional issues raised by the Qatari Emir, Ayatollah Khamenei described Qatar as a “friendly and brotherly country” but noted unresolved matters, including Iran’s financial claims transferred from South Korea to Qatar. “We understand that the main obstacle to implementing the related agreements is the United States,” he remarked.

 

“If we were in Qatar’s position, we would not succumb to U.S. pressure and would return the financial dues to the rightful party. We still expect such an action from Qatar,” the Supreme Leader asserted, adding that “there is no real difference between U.S. presidents.”

 

President Pezeshkian was also present at the meeting. Sheikh Tamim, expressing satisfaction with the discussions, praised Iran’s unwavering support for the oppressed and the Palestinian people. “Your steadfast stance alongside the Palestinian people will never be forgotten,” the Emir told Ayatollah Khamenei.

 

Sheikh Tamim emphasized the importance of regional cooperation amid the current challenges and pointed to recent agreements between Iran and Qatar, including the construction of an underwater tunnel connecting the two nations.

 

“Based on the agreements, a joint commission will soon be activated, and we anticipate a significant increase in economic exchanges in the near future,” he noted.