Iran, Qatar sign deals on relations, trade, energy, culture

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited Qatar this week, where he met with the Qatari emir. Raisi’s two-day visit ended with both countries signing major deals surrounding energy, culture, trade, and diplomatic relations, among others.

Iran and Qatar signed 14 major deals during Raisi’s visit this week. The deals involved cooperation between the two countries as well as trade, the economy, culture, and energy, among other key issues. The visit also included attending the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Doha.

“Bilateral relations and trade, economy, energy, culture, and especially investment issues were discussed in the meetings,” Raisi told reporters Tuesday after returning to Tehran. Raisi was accompanied by oil minister Javad Owji and foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian during his visit.

In terms of the economy and trade, Iran and Qatar’s agreement between the two free trade zone authorities. Another agreement was signed between Iran’s Institute of Standards and Industrial Research and its counterpart in Qatar.

For tourism, Iran and Qatar signed an agreement on sports and youth, including one on one education. The energy agreement was reached between the Tavanir of Iran and Qatar’s Electricity and Water Company. Three agreements between both countries were each made on ports and maritime affairs and consular and diplomatic cooperation.

Two deals were made on culture and media that included a two-year cultural cooperation deal and a radio and television cooperation agreement.

Iran’s state media IRNA reported that Raisi also met and spoke with Qatari businesspeople and investors. Raisi also called for the establishment of a joint business center based in Doha that would facilitate investments.

The ongoing nuclear negotiations were also on the agenda when Raisi spoke with the Qatari emir in Doha. Around the same time, Iran’s parliament almost unanimously set strict conditions in order to revive the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and western powers. The conditions also come as the ongoing talks in Vienna are reportedly nearing their end with the possibility of restarting the deal.

The lawmakers called on Raisi to adhere to their conditions in reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA. Lawmakers said that Iran must set clear red lines, as the western powers that serve as co-signatories of the deal do not appear to be bound by any agreement. The lawmakers said that Iran must demand a guarantee from the US and the E3 that they will not abandon the nuclear deal again.