Algeria, Iran discuss bilateral relations and developments in Palestine

By Hassen Djebril and Rania Abu Shamala

ALGIERS, Algeria / ISTANBUL (AA) – Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf met on Tuesday with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Algiers to discuss bilateral relations and developments in Palestine.

A Foreign Ministry statement said talks between the two diplomats discussed various aspects of bilateral relations between Algeria and Iran and ways to strengthen cooperation.

They also addressed developments in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the latest situation in the Palestinian lands amid Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, the statement said.

Araghchi arrived in Algeria early Tuesday for an official visit of unspecified duration.

In March 2024, Algeria and Iran signed six cooperation agreements during a visit by former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Algeria. Raisi later died in May of the same year in a helicopter crash.

In statements during his visit to Algeria, Araghchi said reaching a nuclear agreement with the US is possible during an upcoming round of negotiations in Oman provided that Washington demonstrates a "genuine will."

"We are confident in the peaceful nature of our program, and we see no problem in building more trust as long as the process does not impose constraints on us or hinder Iran’s objectives," he said.

The Iranian minister added that in return for building trust, sanctions imposed "unfairly" on Iran should be lifted, describing the accusations behind them as "baseless."

Araghchi said the negotiations in Oman will take place between him and US envoy Steve Witkoff.

"If the other party has the necessary and sufficient will, an agreement can be reached. If the other side comes to Oman with genuine intent, we will certainly reach a result,” he said.