Qatar’s foreign minister arrives in Iran

TEHRAN, Jan. 27 (YPA) – The Qatari Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, arrived in the Iran’s capital, Tehran, on Thursday, official media in Qatar and Iran reported.

This comes days before Qatar’s emir is to hold talks in Washington, at a crucial time for Tehran and major powers’ efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

Qatari Foreign Minister’s visit comes after his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir Abdullahian, said on Monday that Tehran was ready to hold direct talks with Washington if it felt the possibility of reaching a “good nuclear deal.”

The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) showed video footage of the two ministers meeting in Tehran, but said that the visit was not aimed at facilitating direct talks with Washington.

“Although Doha and Tehran have good and close relations, this visit has raised some misperceptions,” the Iranian agency said.

The United States and Iran have held eight rounds of indirect talks in Vienna since April, with the aim of reviving the agreement that provides for lifting sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

YPA