TEHRAN – Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani paid a surprise visit to the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday a day after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi spoke over the phone with Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. 

Iranian media reported that Bagheri Kani, who has been Iran’s top nuclear negotiator in the Vienna talks over reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, will discuss bilateral, regional and international issues. 

Upon his arrival, Bagheri Kani met with his Qatari counterpart, Mohammad al-Khulaifi. In this meeting, the two senior diplomats discussed bilateral, regional, and international issues. 

Bagheri Kani also addressed issues related to the West’s approach to terrorism and human rights, saying that every country taking a political path different from the West will be accused of violating human rights and supporting terrorism. 

Referring to the growing trend of bilateral relations, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Qatar emphasized the efforts of the Qatari authorities to comprehensively expand political and economic relations with Iran.

The meeting comes after President Raisi and Sheikh Tamim held a phone conversation in which the Iranian president congratulated Doha on cherishing Islamic values during the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar.

Ayatollah Raisi also congratulated Qatar on the “good” organization of the World Cup. “The efforts of this country in observing the Islamic values deserve appreciation,” Raisi said, according to a statement by the official website of the Iranian presidency.