Iran seeks talks with Gulf states

Dubai - Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian hints at September 22 for negotiations

Soon after Qatar's top diplomat called for a 'serious dialogue' with Iran in the wake of its nuclear deal with world powers and the ongoing regional conflicts, Tehran has expressed its willingness to hold negotiations with the six Gulf nations.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab-African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told Iran's Isna news agency on Friday that the initiative to hold a common meeting by September 22 between Iran and the Gulf nations about the regional crises came from Qatar and Oman, Azerbaijan's Trend news agency reported.
After US Secretary of State John Kerry met the Gulf Cooperation Council in Doha recently, Qatar Foreign Minister Khalid Al Attiyah had said that following the "firm agreement between the major players and Iran", there was now scope to work with Iran on other issues.
"We should have a serious dialogue with our neighbour, the Iranians, and ... lay down our concerns from both sides, and solve them together. Iran is our neighbour in the region. We have to live together," he said.
"We are all in the GCC working towards a good neighbourhood. We want also Iran to take this approach as well, and only then we can have a fruitful dialogue," Al Attiyah said.
The Gulf nations, especially Saudi Arabia, are agitated over Iran's support to Shia groups in Bahrain, Iraq and Yemen.
Iran and the Gulf countries differ on many regional issues, especially finding a solution to the bloodshed in countries like Syria, Bahrain, Yemen and Iraq. While, the Gulf states want the removal of Bashar Al Assad from power, Iran strongly supports the Syrian president.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir has insisted there would be no cooperation with the Syrian regime.
"Our position has not changed ... there is no place for Al Assad in the future of Syria," Al Jubeir said in Moscow on Tuesday. "We think that Assad is part of the problem, not part of the solution."
Referring to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's visit to Syria on August 12, the Iran's deputy foreign minister said that Tehran continues to support Bashar. "Iran updated its proposals for peace in Syria, and Syrians will decide their country's fate through democratic process," he added.
Iran's top diplomat visited Syria after Teheran announced last week that it was preparing to submit a four-stage plan to the United Nations to bring peace in Syria after four years of civil war, which has left 250,000 dead and produced four million refugees, the Trend report said.
The region of late witnessed hectic diplomatic activity, including Zarif's visit to Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq two weeks ago.
Abdollahian said that a dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia is a necessity.
Asked about the proposed venue for the meeting with the Gulf nations, the Iranian diplomat said that Tehran prefers the negotiations be held in a regional country, but that it can be in anywhere, Trend reported.
He said reaching a common perception is important to put an end to the regional crises.

• MENA