Qatar’s emir meets Iranian interior minister to discuss regional de-escalation

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Doha on Tuesday to discuss regional developments and efforts to reduce tensions, the Emiri Diwan said in a statement, Anadolu Agency reported.

The meeting addressed regional developments and efforts to reduce tensions “in a way that would enhance regional and international security and stability,” the statement said.

Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported early Tuesday that Momeni held talks with his Qatari counterpart to discuss missing Iranian pilots.

Momeni said after the meeting that negotiations were held regarding the pilots and that the two sides agreed a technical delegation would hold further meetings on the issue.

He said the talks also covered bilateral issues, including organized crime, coast guard cooperation, security matters and efforts to combat drug trafficking.

The Iranian minister arrived in Doha on Monday for talks with Qatari officials.

Iran says that three pilots were detained by Qatari forces after their military aircraft were downed in Qatar’s airspace in March.

READ: Qatar confirms relaying messages between US, Iran to end war

Doha has denied the claim, saying its search-and-rescue teams recovered the remains of one Iranian pilot and handed them over to Tehran.

Qatar has said there is no evidence that the other pilots were detained and has invited an Iranian technical team to review details of the search-and-rescue operations.

Separately, Qatar said Tuesday that contacts and visits aimed at making progress between Washington and Tehran are continuing amid mediation efforts to end their conflict.

“Contacts and visits are continuing with the aim of achieving progress that can be built upon between Washington and Tehran,” Ibrahim Al-Hashmi, director of the Qatari Foreign Ministry’s Communications Department, told a news conference in response to a question about Momeni’s visit.

Hashmi said any further details regarding the Iranian minister’s visit would be announced by Qatar’s Interior Ministry.

​​​​​​​Qatar, alongside Pakistan, has been leading mediation efforts aimed at ending the conflict between Washington and Tehran, which erupted in late February. An initial agreement reached in June has failed to bring a lasting end to the hostilities.

READ: Iran receives US response to Qatari-mediated proposal: Spokesperson