Kuwaiti PM Tackles Bilateral Relations with Visiting Iranian FM

Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah receives on Wednesday Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. (KUNA)
Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah receives on Wednesday Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. (KUNA)
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Kuwaiti PM Tackles Bilateral Relations with Visiting Iranian FM

Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah receives on Wednesday Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. (KUNA)
Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah receives on Wednesday Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. (KUNA)

Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah reviewed on Wednesday with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian the bilateral relations between the two countries and the means to promote them.

“The Kuwaiti PM received on Wednesday visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and they discussed the latest regional and international relations,” the Kuwaiti official news agency, KUNA, said.

The meeting was attended by Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Iran's top diplomat arrived in Kuwait Wednesday, the third leg of a Gulf tour that saw him hold “constructive” talks with his Omani counterpart in Muscat earlier in the day.

Amir-Abdollahian also held discussions in Doha on its nuclear program with Qatari and European Union officials.

Before he left Muscat on Wednesday, Amir-Abdollahian called the meeting with his Omani counterpart as “constructive” and praised the effective cooperation between the two sides, the official Oman News Agency, ONA, said.

The Omani minister said they discussed “continued consultations and cooperation” on issues of bilateral concern.

“There is great consensus in the visions of the two states on a series of issues... that will contribute to stability, security and peace,” he said, quoted by ONA.

Amir-Abdollahian’s visit to Oman came three weeks after Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran.

“The Ministers discussed relations between the two friendly countries and followed up on the results of the visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to Tehran in May,” the Omani Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It added that the two ministers reviewed ways to activate and enhance cooperation in culture, trade, economic and investment affairs, energy projects, and transportation with a view to supporting economic diversification and serving the interests of the two countries and their peoples.

For his part, Amir-Abdollahian said he discussed different bilateral issues with the Omani FM including the implementation of agreements signed during the recent visit of the Omani monarch to Tehran.

He then thanked the constructive efforts and initiatives of Oman and its sultan to facilitate and resolve regional and international matters.

The remarkable progress in Oman-Iran relations was emphasized during the talks, particularly in areas of economic and trade cooperation, transportation, energy, science and tourism.

Amir-Abdollahian then highlighted the United Nations Secretary General’s initiative to convene a meeting of foreign ministers from eight Gulf countries in New York, an initiative strongly supported by Oman and Qatar.

The two ministers actively explored opportunities to enhance joint cooperation in cultural, trade, economic and investment fields. They reaffirmed full support for all endeavors that promote global peace and stability.

However, both ministers did not address Oman's mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington to reach a new deal that could see Iran free US prisoners in return for the release of billions of dollars worth of Iranian assets.

On Wednesday morning, the Iranian FM also met Sultan bin Mohammed al Numani, minister of Oman’s royal office, for talks on ties between their countries and “several areas of cooperation,” ONA said.

The Iranian government says it attaches importance to strengthening diplomatic and trade relations with neighboring countries. This came as the Iranian economy is suffering under the repercussions of the US sanctions imposed by the administration of former US President Donald Trump, following his withdrawal from the nuclear deal.

“The resolution of challenges with the collective participation of countries in the region is the best way to achieve the progress of nations and ensure security in the Persian Gulf,” Amir-Abdollahian tweeted before he left Kuwait.

Last week, European and Iranian officials said Muscat is a mediator in indirect talks between Iran and its sworn enemy the United States over its suspect nuclear program and a possible prisoner swap.

Amir-Abdollahian discussed developments in the nuclear agreement with his Qatari counterpart, according to the official Qatar News Agency.



GCC-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue Focuses on Strengthening Cooperation

The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA
The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA
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GCC-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue Focuses on Strengthening Cooperation

The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA
The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue held in Kuwait. Photo: KUNA

Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers and their counterparts from Central Asia discussed in Kuwait on Wednesday consolidating cooperation in several fields.

The Third Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Central Asia Strategic Dialogue focused on enhancing the strong relations between the GCC and Central Asian countries and discussed a joint action plan to advance cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, and tourism sectors.
Preparations were also reviewed for the upcoming summit between the GCC and Central Asian countries, scheduled to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, next month. This summit follows the inaugural one held in Saudi Arabia in 2023.

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attended the meeting.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya said the meeting marks a significant milestone in establishing a sustainable partnership based on mutual respect and shared interests.

Speaking at a joint press conference with GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi after the meeting, Al-Yahya, current President of the GCC Ministerial Council, highlighted the growing historical, cultural, and human ties between the two regions, and emphasized the shared political will to strengthen strategic cooperation.

The meeting focused on several key areas of priority, including enhancing economic and trade cooperation, encouraging investment, and developing sectors such as transport and energy, clean energy transitions, green economies, and modern technologies, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.

Discussions also focused on food and water security, digital infrastructure, and artificial intelligence, aiming to support stability and sustainable development.

On political and security matters, the foreign minister stressed the importance of consultation and coordination on shared challenges, especially in combating terrorism, extremism, and cyber threats, and praised the GCC Secretariat for its role in advancing joint action mechanisms.

Regarding regional and international issues, Al-Yahya reaffirmed the GCC's steadfast support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital.

On his part, Al-Budaiwi said that both the GCC and Central Asian states are committed to advancing cooperation across various sectors, as outlined in the Joint Action Plan for 2023-27.

He stated that the meeting included an exchange of views on regional and global developments, particularly the Israeli occupation's violations against the Palestinian people, and reiterated the GCC's rejection of these violations and called on the international community to act decisively in support of Palestinian rights, including the establishment of a sovereign state.