The Amir of State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Tehran on Wednesday on an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Upon arrival at Mehrabad International Airport, the Amir and his accompanying delegation were warmly received by Iran's Minister of Energy, Abbas Aliabadi; Ambassador of State of Qatar to Iran, Saad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud; Iran's Ambassador to Qatar. Dr. Ali Salehabadi; along with several senior officials and members of the Qatari embassy.

Among Qatari delegation included were Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, among other dignitaries.

Later, The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, at Maqam Rahbri in Tehran. During the meeting, they discussed the strong cooperation and friendly relations between the two nations, as well as a range of regional and international issues of shared concern.

The Amir of Qatar also met with Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran, at the Saadabad Palace, where upon arriving, he was  accorded guard of honour.

Both the leaders discussed various areas of potential cooperation between the two countries. The focus was on exploring new opportunities for collaboration, particularly in the commercial and economic sectors.

The discussions were followed by joint press conference addressed by both leaders, where the Amir and President Pezeshkian highlighted the importance of continued collaboration. They also addressed pressing regional challenges and key international issues of mutual interest.

The Amir emphasized the Palestinian cause, stressing the need to adhere to the Gaza ceasefire agreement and to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. He reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment, in coordination with its mediation partners, to the success of the ceasefire agreement and its role in facilitating humanitarian assistance and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.

On the Syrian issue, both leaders discussed the importance of advancing a comprehensive political process to achieve stability in Syria.

President Pezeshkian also praised the strong ties between Qatar and Iran, emphasizing the deep-rooted friendship and productive communication between the two nations. He expressed his gratitude to the Amir for the visit, which he described as a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations and fostering regional and international cooperation.

Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President Pezeshkian held a session of official talks at the Republican Palace in Tehran. During the session, President Pezeshkian welcomed the Amir and expressed his pleasure in receiving him, stressing the importance of strengthening the bilateral ties for the benefit of both nations and their peoples.

In response, the Amir thanked the Iranian President and expressed his satisfaction in meeting with him. He highlighted the strength of Qatari-Iranian relations and emphasized the importance of further advancing these ties, particularly in the areas of trade, economy, and energy.

The session also included discussions on promoting investment opportunities between the two countries across various sectors, as well as addressing key regional and global developments of shared concern.

The meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials from both countries, including members of the official Qatari delegation, such as Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Khulaifi, Chief of the Amiri Diwan, among others.

On the Iranian side, the session was attended by Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and several senior Iranian officials.

Official News Agency of Islamic Republic of Iran, IRNA reported that approximately $6 billion in Iranian funds remain frozen under U.S. sanctions and are currently held in a Qatari bank after being released by South Korea in September 2023.