TEHRAN (Iran News) – Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says dialogue among regional countries is the best solution to the existing problems in the region, warning against foreign interference.
Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a Thursday meeting with the visiting Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during which the Leader called for increased political and economic cooperation between the two countries.
During the meeting, the Leader emphasized that regional problems can be solved through dialogue among regional countries without any interference of “foreign factors.”
“The issues of Yemen and Syria can be also solved through dialogue. Of course, dialogue should not be undertaken from a weak position at a time that the opposite parties, mostly the United States and others, rely on military and financial power,” the Leader said.
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that management of the region does not need any meddling by foreign parties, adding, “Wherever Zionists go, they foment corruption and can give no power or concession to [regional] countries.”
“Therefore, we, as regional countries, must boost our relations as much as we can through common thinking and cooperation,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
Confirming the Qatari Emir’s remarks in which he condemned the crimes committed by the Zionist regime, the Leader described decades-long oppression of the Palestinian people by “evil Zionists” as a bitter reality and a blow to the Islamic world and the Arab world.
“In the face of these crimes, the Islamic Republic of Iran expects the Arab world to take explicit political action,” Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
Referring to Israeli forces’ attacks on the restive Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of the occupied Palestinian city of al-Quds, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “The support offered by some Arab countries to Palestinian people in that case did not even match up to [the support offered by] some European [countries] and they took no [decisive] position. Even now, they are still acting like that.”
“If this approach taken by Arab countries is out of fear of the Zionist regime or having hopes in it, they must know that today, the occupying regime is in conditions that nobody can have hopes in or be afraid of it,” the Leader said.
The Qatari Emir, for his part, said the crimes committed by the Zionist regime in Palestine are horrible and must be confronted by all regional countries.
Expressing regret over the Israeli killing of a Palestinian journalist on Wednesday, he said, “Zionists committed this crime in cold blood.”
Earlier in meeting with Qatari Emir, President Ebrahim Raisi said the crimes committed by Israel, including the recent killing of a Palestinian journalist, do not bring the regime security and only cause it to be loathed more by people of the region.
During the presser, Iran’s chief executive touched on the killing of the Palestinian journalist by the Israeli forces while covering the latest attacks by those forces on Palestinians, expressing his condolences on her martyrdom.
“Such crimes do not bring security to the Zionist regime, but increase public hatred toward the regime,” Iran’s president said.
He added that his condolences over the killing of the Palestinian journalist were extended to all journalists around the globe, who convey the voice of the Palestinian people to the world.
“Such crimes [that are committed by the Zionist regime] will not continue for long,” Raisi said.
In another part of his remarks, Iran’s president negated all forms of foreign presence in the West Asia region, especially by Western countries.
“Such [foreign] presence does not bring security to the region, but on the contrary, undermines it,” he added.
“During our talks, we discussed major regional issues, especially the issue of Yemen,” Iran’s president said, adding, “We emphasized that the blockade of Yemen [by the Saudi-led military coalition] must end and Yemenis must be allowed to decide the fate of their country.”
Raisi added that another highlight of his talks with the Emir of Qatar was the situation of Afghanistan, noting that the country must have an inclusive government representing all groups and political factions, so that sustainable security could be established there.
The two leaders, Raisi said, also laid emphasis on the need for the liberation of the occupied al-Quds, and end to the brutal siege of Gaza, and termination of Israel’s crimes against Palestinians.
Iran’s president said the two sides emphasized the expansion of relations in all sectors, including politics, economy, trade, culture, tourism, and energy
Joint investment between Tehran and Doha and the implementation of mutual agreements reached during Raisi’s recent visit to Qatar were other highlights of his discussions with the Emir of Qatar.
Iran’s president noted that the Qatari Emir’s visit will be a turning point in the two countries’ relations and will play a very important role in boosting mutual cooperation at regional and international levels
The Emir of Qatar, for his part, said the two leaders discussed major bilateral issues and all-out expansion of cooperation in all fields during their discussions.
Al Thani said the two sides agreed that resolution of the current problems facing the region is only possible through dialogue and negotiations.
“The existing problems in the region must be settled through constructive dialogue,” he said, adding that the two sides also discussed the ongoing situation in Palestine, Syria, Yemen and Iraq.
The Emir of Qatar also consoled with the family of the slain Palestinian journalist.
“The killers of [the Palestinian] journalist must be held accountable,” the Qatari Emir said, emphasizing that no double standards must be applied in dealing with this issue.
He added that the cause of Palestine is the main issue of the region, noting that this issue must be resolved in a comprehensive manner, addressing all its aspects.
