Iran's president meets Qatar emir in Doha ahead of gas forum

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's president arrived in Qatar on Monday and was welcomed in an official ceremony by the country's ruling emir ahead of a global gas summit and as pressure mounts to revive Iran's nuclear deal with world powers.

This is President Ebrahim Raisi's fourth trip abroad since he took office six months ago. His visit to the neighboring Arab state of Qatar, with which Iran shares a vast underwater gas field, comes as the two Persian Gulf countries forge even closer bonds.

Kicking off his visit to Doha, the two leaders sat side by side as 14 agreements of cooperation were signed in fields including aviation, trade, shipping, media, electricity, culture and education, according to media in both countries. The Iranian president traveled to Qatar with five Cabinet ministers, including the foreign and energy ministers, the state-run news outlet IRNA reported.

Speaking to reporters in Qatar, Raisi said Iran was “seeking change in regional relations” around cooperation and interaction. Referring to the ongoing negotiations in Vienna around Iran's nuclear accord, he said the United States must prove it is willing to lift key sanctions against his country.

“In order to reach an agreement, it is necessary to ensure the interests of the Iranian people, especially the lifting of sanctions," he said.

The United States has participated indirectly in the talks because it unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 under then President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden has signaled that he wants to rejoin the deal.

The tiny nation of Qatar, which lies on the western side of the Arabian Peninsula and has only one land border to Saudi Arabia, is among the world’s largest suppliers of liquefied natural gas. Despite its small size, it also plays a strategic role as a back channel, mediator and...