Qatar emir visits Iran as nuclear talks falter

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani met Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran as an EU envoy and held a second day of meetings with Iran's chief negotiator Ali Bagheri in the Iranian capital.

Qatar, a close US ally, has added the Iran nuclear dispute to its list of diplomatic hotspots where it has taken a behind-the-scenes mediation role.

"Regarding the negotiations taking place in Vienna, Qatar always looks at them positively," Sheikh Tamim said during a joint news conference with Raisi, adding that "the only solution to any disagreement is by peaceful means and dialogue."

"We are, God willing, pushing all the parties towards" reaching an agreement that is "fair" for everyone, said the Qatari emir.

Raisi did not raise the nuclear issue during the news conference, but he cautioned against the meddling of any foreign country in the region.

"Any interference of western and foreign countries in the region not only can't ensure security but will also be harmful to regional security," he said.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says dialogue among regional countries is the best solution to the existing problems in the region, warning against foreign interference.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a Thursday meeting with the visiting Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during which the Leader called for increased political and economic cooperation between the two countries.