Iran, Qatar to sign undersea tunnel project among other major deals

Iran and Qatar are to sign four major agreements, including plans for an underwater tunnel connecting the two countries amid talks aimed at enhancing bilateral ties.

The other deals are reportedly related to shipping, maritime trade and improving air travel between both countries. The agreements are to be signed while Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and a top delegation are in Qatar on a two-day visit to hold high-level talks with Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.

Al Thani was later pictured presenting Raisi with a football jersey of the Qatari national team signed by all members of the team ahead of the FIFA World Cup which will be hosted in the country later this year.

Raisi will also be attending the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit in Doha, it is his first visit to a Gulf Arab state since he took office in August last year and the first visit by an Iranian president to Qatar in 11 years.

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“Iran is one of the founders of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) because we are among the three most important gas producing and exporting countries,” Raisi was quoted as saying before departing Tehran. He is expected to address the summit tomorrow.

The underwater tunnel will connect Iran’s Port of Dayyer to Qatar and will include rail and road infrastructure. It will first undergo a feasibility study, according to Iranian reports.

Raisi’s arrival in Doha was preceded by a visit to Tehran by Qatar’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani where he held talks with the president and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Although the minister’s second trip to Iran was not officially announced, it was confirmed by AFP, citing diplomatic sources.