Iran Tracker

Nuclear:

Though Qatar is an ally of the United States and has spoken out against Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, Qatar has publicly supported Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology. [1] Qatar hosts one of the largest American bases in the Middle East, Al Udeid Air Base, but it has rejected U.N. Security Council resolutions against Iran for its nuclear program.[2]  According to Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jasim in an April 2008 joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, sanctions against Iran and its nuclear program are counterproductive.[3]  In December 2008, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States – plus Germany held a meeting with eight Arab states – Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates – to discuss how the UN could apply pressure to Iran to suspend its nuclear enrichment.[4]  In April 2009, US Special Adviser for the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia Dennis Ross visited Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar to discuss diplomatic efforts to engage Iran on its nuclear program.[5]

Economic Relationship:

Iran and Qatar have made pledges over the past few years to further develop their economic relationship, most specifically their oil and gas cooperation both within and outside of OPEC. [6] Iran and Qatar are both members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)—and together with Russia hold more than 50 percent of global natural gas reserves. [7] In January 2009, the three countries met in Tehran, where they agreed to establish a “gas troika” to cooperate on the exploration and production of their gas reserves. [8] In May 2009, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi visited Doha to discuss increasing media cooperation with Qatar.[9] That month, the Iranian government also agreed to issue $100 million in bonds to finance the development of the South Pars gas field, which Iran and Qatar share.[10]

In September 2009, Qatari Finance and Economy Minister Youssef Hossein al-Kamal announced that Qatar is eager to invest in Iran’s telecommunication, tourism, banking and steel sectors.  Hossein al-Kamal met with Iranian Deputy Economic Affairs and Finance Minister Behrouz Alishiri to discuss the countries’ cooperation in trade and economy by reducing customs and tax tariffs.[11]

At the beginning of November 2009, Iranian Valfajr 8 shipping line resumed its operation in Qatar.  Iranian Ambassador to Doha Abdollah Sohrabi acknowledged that the resumption of the line was a “model for friendship between the two countries” and he thanked Iranian Deputy Roads and Transportation Minister Seyed Ataollah Sadr, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and Qatari Prince and Crown Prince for their cooperation in this endeavor.[12]

Tehran is awaiting investment decisions from the Qatari National Bank before moving on plans to develop the Esfandiar oil field, executives said in January 2010. Iranian Offshore Oil Company Director Hossein Jafari said Tehran was waiting for Qatar to approve $572 million in investments to finance projects in the field along the southern border of the country. The Esfandiar and Forouzan oil fields straddle the border with Saudi Arabia, though Riyadh has developed much of those reserves. Esfandiar is an extension of the Lulu field in the neutral economic zone shared by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Tehran stated its intention in 2006 to boost production at both fields from 70,000 to 100,000 barrels per day.[13]

[Click here for more information on Qatar’s business activity with Iran.]

Diplomatic/Military Relationship:

Qatar and Iran have cooperated in a number of political forums, including OPEC, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).  Beyond their political cooperation, Qatar and Iran share cultural roots as more than 30 percent of Qatar’s population is of Persian decent.[14]  Despite regional proximity and common ground in the energy sector with Iran, Qatar is an ally of the United States, hosting one of the largest peacetime contingents of America’s Middle East forces, while Iranian leaders frequently refer to the United States as the “Great Satan.” [15]  According to Prime Minister Hamad bin Jasim, Qatar “would like to be friendly with everyone.”[16] In an April 2009 meeting with the Qatari minister of information, Sheikh Hamad Bin Thamar At-Thani, Iranian Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani expressed Iran’s desire to create unity among regional and Muslim countries. In the same April 2009 meeting, Sheikh Hamad Bin Thamar At-Thani indicated that Qatar appreciates Iran’s positions on regional and international issues.[17]  

In July 2009, Ali Larijani met with Emir of Qatar Sheik Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani. Larijani described Qatar as a strategic partner and indicated that Iran is determined to expand bilateral ties with Qatar. The Qatari emir echoed these sentiments during the same July 2009 meeting, saying that “Iran is always standing behind Arabs and people of Palestine, but some want to make minds turn against the country while we have no problem with it. Iran is always our friend and we won't allow any ill-will person to create problems between us."[18]

Immediately after Larijani’s visit to Qatar, Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces Hamad bin Ali al Attiyah and Iran’s Defense Minister Mostafa-Mohammad Najjar met in Tehran to discuss defense ties. During the July 7, 2009, meeting, Najjar explained to Major General Hamad bin Ali al Attiyah that “Iran-Qatar defense ties can serve as a good example for expansion of defense cooperation in the [Persian Gulf] region.” According to Najjar, Iran seeks to play a prominent role in the security of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormoz, a strategic waterway through which roughly 40% of the world market’s oil is transported.[19] On July 10, 2009, only days after the meeting between Najjar and Hamad bin Ali al Attiyah, the head of Iranian Frontier Police, Major General Ghasem Rezaie, announced that Iranian frontier guards would participate in joint training exercises with Qatar’s costal command.[20] Cooperation between the two countries’ border guards was further expanded in August 2009, when Iran and Qatar signed an agreement designed to improve efforts at controlling territorial waters.[21]

In October 2009, Qatari Minister for Environment Abdallah bin Barak al-Meadadi visited Iran to meet with Iranian Vice President and head of Iran’s Environment Protection Organization Mohammad Javad Mohammadizadeh and Iranian Minister of Agriculture Medhi Qazenfari.  Iranian Envoy to Doha Abdullah Sohrabi announced that the minister “will discuss bilateral and regional issues, including dust pollution which has sparked abundant problems in the bordering and southern parts of Iran and for the other regional countries in the last four years, marine pollution, aquatic issues, the necessity for the organization and reorganization of animals.”[22]

In November 2009, Iranian Ambassador to Qatar Abdullah Sohrabi stated that the relations between Iran and Qatar are a role model for interactions between Muslim nations. Speaking at an Eid al-Adha – a Muslim holiday – ceremony, Sohrabi said, “the good relations between Iran and Qatar not only serve both countries’ interests but are also beneficial to the interests of the whole region and Islamic countries.”[23]

Tripartite negotiations between Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran laid the foundations of an agreement on maritime borders in January 2010.[24] Iranian Ambassador to Qatar Abdullah Sorabi spoke in anticipation of Qatari Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s visit to Tehran, lauding Qatar’s role as mediator between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.[25] Sorabi described relations between the two Gulf countries as strong due to several high-level diplomatic talks between 2006 and 2010, during which time Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani has visited Iran four times.[26] Military cooperation between the two countries is anticipated to increase during the forthcoming visit of Iranian Interior Minister Mustafa Najjar to Doha to discuss armed forces cooperation, naval training, defense exhibitions, and technical expertise.[27]

Iranian Ambassador to Qatar Abdullah Sohrabi announced that "there will be no change in demarcation of maritime borders with Qatar and that the work will proceed according to the agreements already signed”. "Everything regarding border issues is distinguished and it only needs to be renewed and updated in some cases,” he added.[28] Sohrabi also met Qatari Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Chief of Staff of Armed Forces Major General Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah and submitted the message of Iranian First Vice President Mohamma Reza Rahimi, which calls for maturing Iran-Qatar relations, to Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. Qatar's crown prince said strengthening mutual relations serves interests of the two sides as well as interests of all regional nations. He added "there is no obstacle to maturing Tehran-Doha relations," while Sohrabi expressed hope that the two countries could create a major advance in bilateral ties.[29] At the same time, President Ahmadinejad in his meeting with the new Qatari Ambassador to Tehran Ibrahim bin Abdul-Rahman Hassan al-Muqaisib claimed that relations between Iran and Qatar serve as an exemplary model for excellent regional ties given the two nations determination to improve the level of bilateral ties to the highest possible level in line with both nations' interests.[30]

On February 2, 2010, Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi hailed the friendly ties between Iran and Qatar and called for the expansion of bilateral relations between the two states. "Beyond the friendly relations, the mutual respect existing between the two countries is very valuable," Rahimi said in a meeting with Qatari Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani in Tehran. He also called for the promotion of ties and cooperation between Tehran and Doha for the benefit of the two nations and the region.[31] In response, Prince Sheikh Al-Thani said that Qatar’s relations with Iran are strategic, brotherly, and strong, and thus Doha is ready to expand military cooperation with Tehran.[32]

[Click here for more information on the Gulf Cooperation Council]