Zarif in Gulf to discuss bilateral ties

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrives in Kuwait where he is beginning a three-nation regional tour aimed at deepening ties with Arab neighbors following the conclusion of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear deal with world powers.

Zarif receives a red-carpet airport greeting from his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah, before holding talks with the ruling emir, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah.

At the start of the visit, Zarif called on the Gulf States to work with Iran in fighting extremists in the region.

After Kuwait, Zarif is scheduled to visit Qatar and Iraq. Iranian state-linked media say he will brief officials in all three countries on the nuclear accord and discuss ways to improve cooperation and fight terrorism.

Iran shares control of a vast underwater natural gas field with Qatar, a wealthy nation rapidly being transformed by its hydrocarbon riches.

In Iraq, Tehran has close ties with senior government leaders and Shiite militia groups, and it is playing an active role in fighting Islamic State militants who have seized a third of the country.

— with AP