Iran urges Qatar to uphold mediation role and bar use of its territory for aggression

The head of the Public Relations Department of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mahmoud Maleki, responded to remarks by Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Director of the Media and Communication Department at Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, concerning the visit of senior officials from Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to Tehran. Maleki said the quadrilateral meeting in Tehran is in itself a sign of Iran's good faith and responsible approach toward the shared interests of the nations of the region.

Maleki said the Islamic Republic of Iran expects all regional states, including Qatar, to reciprocate this good faith in their own policies and approaches. He added that Iran expects neighboring Qatar, in adherence to the principle of good neighborliness, to strictly refrain from repeating certain actions, specifically allowing aggressor parties to use its territory and facilities for the purpose of military aggression against Iran.

Referring to what he described as constructive discussions held during the four-party meeting in Tehran, which brought together Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, Maleki advised the Qatari official to exercise greater caution in his public statements given Qatar's role in ongoing diplomatic processes.

The statement did not specify which particular remarks by Al Hashemi prompted the response, nor did it detail the outcomes of the four-party talks beyond describing them as constructive. Qatar has been involved in regional diplomatic efforts, and the Iranian statement frames its expectations of Doha around that mediation role.

According to Mehr News, the Iranian foreign ministry official's comments were issued through the ministry's public relations department and carried by the agency under its coverage of Qatar, bilateral ties and what it described as US and US-Israeli aggression on Iran.