TEHRAN – During his first visit to a Persian Gulf country, Iranian President Ayatollah Seyed Ebrahim Raisi arrived in the Qatari capital Doha on Monday morning.

Ayatollah Raisi visited neighboring Qatar upon an official invitation to participate in the 6th summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), which will be held on Tuesday.

The Iranian president was received at the airport by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and was accorded an official reception ceremony in which the Iranian national anthem was played.

President Raisi was seen off at the airport in Tehran by the Deputy Head of the Supreme Leader's Office on International Affairs Hojjatoleslam val-Moslemin Mohsen Qomi, First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, and a number of cabinet members.

The president's chief of staff, the ministers of foreign affairs, petroleum, transport and urban development, energy, and industry and trade are accompanying Ayatollah Raisi on the trip.

14 agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed between the officials of the two countries.

Upon his arrival in Doha, President Raisi held talks with the Qatari leader. Later the two senior officials talked to reporters at a joint press conference.  At the press briefing, Raisi said Iran is seeking to deepen ties with Qatar. The president also said Iran has proven its loyalty to all regional countries at difficult times.

While in Qatar, President Raisi also planned to hold separate meetings with Iranians living in Qatar as well as Qatari and Iranian businesspeople.

On the second day of his visit, Ayatollah Raisi will address the sixth Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit, according to the official website of the Iranian presidency.

The president will also meet with a number of heads of state and government officials attending the summit on its sidelines.

Before leaving Tehran for Doha, Ayatollah Raisi expressed hope that that his Qatar visit will be a step towards improving political, economic, and trade ties between the two countries.

Regarding the importance of his visit to Qatar, the president said, “We hope that this visit will be a step towards improving political, economic and trade relations between the countries of the region and the countries of the Persian Gulf.”

He added, “This visit is taking place at the invitation of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, the Honorable Emir of Qatar, with the two goals of our bilateral relations with the friendly, brotherly and neighborly country of Qatar, and participating in the forum of countries producing and exporting gas.”