Iran welcomes any initiative aimed to ease tensions in Middle East: FM Zarif

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has stressed the importance of easing tensions in the Middle East, particularly in Yemen, expressing Tehran’s readiness to contribute to any initiative in this regard.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes any move and initiative that is carried out with goodwill in line with easing tensions in the region and will contribute to them,” Zarif said in a meeting with his Omani counterpart, Yusuf bin Alawi, in Tehran on Monday.

He said Iran is firmly resolved to hold dialog with all regional countries and has unveiled its initiative for regional security, known as Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE), in this regard.

In an address to the 74th session of the UN General Assembly on September 25, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani invited all countries that are affected by developments in the Persian Gulf to join the country’s initiative for the security of the strategic region.

He said that the “Coalition of HOPE” aims to promote peace, stability, progress and prosperity of littoral states and help achieve mutual understanding and establish peaceful and friendly relations among them.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian foreign minister commended Oman’s “good and constructive role” in regional developments and said Tehran and Muscat enjoy very good relations in all fields and should develop further expansion of cooperation.

Dialog, understanding required in region: Oman FM

The Omani foreign minister said the region is in need of more dialog and understanding at the current juncture, adding that holding a comprehensive conference with the participation of all countries can be effective.

Alawi arrived in Tehran on Monday on his third trip to the country over the past nine months. Earlier in the day, he held talks with Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani.