UPDATE - Qatari ruler reaches Iran on official visit

UPDATES WITH ARRIVAL OF QATARI EMIR IN IRAN; ADDS DETAILS; REVISES INTRO, DECK, HEADLINE

By Ahmed Youssef

DOHA, Qatar (AA) – Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Tehran on an official visit on Thursday.

He was received by Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber and Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian at the Mehrabad International Airport.

Al Thani and a delegation have traveled to Tehran on the invitation of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the Qatari royal court said in a statement.

Discussions will focus on “ways to strengthen cooperation relations between the two countries in various fields, regional and international issues of common interest,” the statement said.

Earlier this week, Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, secretary general of Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, was in Tehran for talks with top Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

According to reports, efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal have been on the agenda in the recent interactions between Iranian and Qatari officials, along with the issue of Iranian funds frozen abroad.

Following his visit to Tehran, Al Thani is said to be traveling to Germany, Britain, and other European states, fueling speculation that he could be seeking an end to the deadlock in efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal.

Raisi is also expected to pay an official visit to Qatar later this month.

* Writing by Bassel Barakat