The Gateway SPI Strategic Policies & Ideas
Farzad Ramezani Bonesh
Past relationship
Qatar is located in the east of the Arabian Peninsula and south of the Persian Gulf. Qatar shares a maritime border with Iran and has been a part of the Iranian Empire in many historical periods. Qatar gained independence in 1971, and Iran was one of the first countries to recognize that country’s independence. Despite regional fluctuations and crises, relations between the two countries have not faced any major tension in the past 5 decades. Despite the crisis between Riyadh and Tehran over the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran in 2016 and Qatar’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia, Qatar returned its ambassador to Iran in 2017.[1] Therefore, the level of relations between Qatar and Iran increased.
Political and geopolitical dimensions
Ebrahim Raisi, the president of Iran who came to power in August 2021, made the first visit of an Iranian president to Qatar in 11 years in February 2022. From Tehran’s point of view, Iran’s neighbors benefit from a vital economic, commercial and political capacity. Therefore, the continuation of the all-round development of relations with neighbors is one of the fundamental axes in the balanced foreign policy doctrine of Raisi’s government.[2]
Meanwhile, in the eyes of Raisi’s government, the visit of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar in the spring of 2022 at the head of a high-ranking[3] delegation to Tehran was a turning point in promoting relations.
In the past years, the focus of some of the Iranian-Qatari meetings has been on negotiations to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and mediation in the release of Iranian-American and Iranian-European prisoners. In fact, Qatar has played an active role in the exchange of prisoners between the United States and Iran and the release of prisoners.
Qatar is a small country with a small size and population. Therefore, seeking the strategic goal of maintaining survival and security, Since the 1970s, it has been trying to use Iran as a guarantor of security and stability in the region. In the past years, Doha has been satisfied with Iran’s position and assistance during the blockade imposed on Qatar, and Qatar has also pointed out Iran has a special position in the region for Qatari foreign policy. From Doha’s point of view, Iran is a part of the geography of the region and a neighbour, and coordination and consultation between Iran and Qatar in some regional cases such as the developments in Afghanistan, the issue of Palestine, international and common threats and security issues are developing.
Also, it is noteworthy the cooperation of the two countries in the security of the region, especially the security of the waterways in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Sea of Oman which trab=nslated into more consultation and cooperation [4] in terms of regional security.
Qatar’s non-hostile view of Iran’s nuclear issue and Iran’s foreign policy in the region has increased Doha’s connection and interaction with Iran. Doha considers the return to the nuclear agreement as the cornerstone of peace in the region and supports any agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and broader regional cooperation and dialogue with Iran.
On the one hand, Doha acts as an ally of Washington in the GCC, and on the other hand, it has warm and good relations with Tehran.
Qatar is de facto a center of regional diplomacy and mediation in the region and has tried to negotiate with the United States and Iran regarding Iran’s nuclear program and drones,[5] in order to reduce tensions between Tehran and Washington. It also played the role of mediator between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Other dimensions
Recently, more attention has been paid to other issues in relations in the fields of tourism, health, medicine, academia, judicial and legal affairs[6] Strengthening cooperation in health tourism and medical services, holding joint events and exhibitions in the field of tourism, attending tourism events of both sides and expanding cultural relations, and the possibility of facilitating visas for Iranians in Qatar [7]are still under consideration.
Iran-Qatar relations and the future of the Israel-Hamas war
Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, Iranian and Qatari authorities have held several diplomatic consultations and negotiations about the war.[8] Qatar and Iran, both with strong relations with Hamas, have made extensive bilateral and multilateral diplomatic efforts at the regional and international levels in areas such as opening the corridor for sending humanitarian aid, a permanent halt to the state of war, and removing the threat of genocide and war crimes against Gaza, very critical humanitarian situation, immediate relief, sending aid, and pressure on Israel.
With the very important and influential role of Qatar and Iran in the limited ceasefires, we see the role of Qatar in the indirect contact between Tehran and Washington in the middle of the crisis.
Although Tehran’s and Doha’s perspectives on the war between Israel and Hamas do not match to a certain extent, they have wide similarities and common interests. From Tehran’s point of view, expanding the intensity and scope of the war [9] is inevitable, while Doha is very concerned of that happening in the region.
In the meantime, Iran and Qatar are likely to continue bilateral and trilateral cooperation with Hamas regarding some proposed initiatives regarding a possible ceasefire, focusing on Palestinian rights for a ceasefire, opposing Israel’s military action, stopping the war, preventing forced displacement,[10] lifting the siege and sending humanitarian aid, medicine and food, exchange of prisoners and hostages, etc. Doha seems to make efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza through consultation and mediation between Tehran and Washington to deal with the expansion of conflict and war in the region and to provide access to a fair win-win compromise.
Vision:
Some political and economic challenges such as sanctions, the two countries’ different views on solving the regional problems, the presence of the US in the region, the issue of the Iranian islands, an approach to Israel, etc., are to remain obstacles to deeper cooperation between the two countries.
Basic bilateral economic agreements[11] include transport agreements, mutual encouragement and support of mutual investment, avoidance of double taxation on income and capital, and customs of two countries, are important foundations for the future development of relations.
Negotiations have already been held in the field of food security,[12] the use of re-export capacity and joint investment. In the future, plans such as investing in Iran, and creating common food security schemes are likely to be developed more.
The role of the joint economic commission of the two countries, the expansion of negotiations in the field of water, labor and labor memorandums, the cooperation of chambers of commerce, etc., also serve the future development of economic relations.
Agreement on the formation of a joint working group between the free zones of Qatar and Iran, improvement of investment fields; Increasing cooperation in commercial, industrial, customs, health, and sports, activating the private sector; Increasing the role of the Council of Merchants of the two countries can increase trade exchanges, joint investments and exchange of goods between the two countries up to one billion dollars in the short term.
In addition to facilitating the previous transit of goods between the three countries of Iran, Qatar and Turkey, more recent cooperation in the field of direct shipping and air transportation and the increase of 27 more flights to weekly trips[13] between the two countries, an agreement to study the feasibility of establishing a connection between the two countries with a submarine tunnel (railway and road) can develop multidimensional relationships.
Also, the future transit capacities of the cooperation of the two countries, especially in the ‘One-road, One-belt’ initiative, and the North-South corridor, still exist. In the political and geopolitical field, Qatar’s non-hostile view of Iran’s nuclear power and Iran’s foreign policy can increase Iran’s communication and interaction. In addition, Qatar uses its relations with Iran as a guarantor of its stability, and Iran can still use its relations with Qatar as a mediator in many regional and international arenas.
The two countries are members of organizations such as OPEC, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, etc., and can cooperate in addition to international political fields. Therefore, in the short and medium term perspective, the multilateral relations between the two countries will increase with the slow growth of trade.
[1] https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/qatar-s-iran-policy-is-pragmatic-not-idealistic-38841
[2]https://www.farsnews.ir/news/14020330000563/%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%87-%D9%87%D9%85%D9%87-%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B7-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%87%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%85-
[3]https://www.irna.ir/news/85059054/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84-%DB%B1%DB%B4%DB%B0%DB%B1-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B7-%D9%86%D8%B2%D8%AF%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%AA%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%86-%D9%87%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C
[4] https://www.president.ir/fa/113298
[5] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/qatar-held-separate-talks-with-us-iran-touching-nuclear-drones-2023-09-20/
[6] https://dolat.ir/detail/430252
[7]https://www.farhang.gov.ir/fa/news/724607/%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%85-%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%87-%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1
[8]https://nournews.ir/Fa/News/154148/%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B2%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%81%D9%86%DB%8C-%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AC%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D9%87
[9] https://mfa.gov.ir/portal/newsview/733556
[10]https://fa.shafaqna.com/news/1719652/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B1%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%B9%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B6%D9%88%D8%B9-%DA%AF%D9%81%D8%AA%DA%AF%D9%88%DB%8C-%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/
[11] https://economic.mfa.ir/portal/EcFormView/273/BilateralTrade
[12]https://www.farsnews.ir/news/14011215000839/%D9%87%D9%85%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B2%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%87%E2%80%8C%DA%AF%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%B1%DA%A9-%D9%88-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%87-%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%AA%E2%80%8C%D9%87%D8%A7
Farzad Ramezani Bonesh is an iranian analyst and journalist covering the Middle East and Asia
GSPI does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of GSPI, its staff, or its trustees.
