In this Jan 20, 2022 file photo released by the State Duma, the Federal Assembly of The Russian Federation Press Service, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi delivers his speech at the State Duma, the Lower House of the Russian Parliament in Moscow, Russia. (PHOTO/AP)

TEHRAN - The Iranian president on Thursday voiced his country's willingness to boost regional cooperation in a meeting with visiting Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and reiterated it is in the interest of the region's peace, security and progress.

During their meeting in the Iranian capital Tehran, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi highlighted the importance of activating multilateral mechanisms to ensure regional security, particularly in the energy sector, calling for greater policy coordination and synergy among energy-producing countries

During their meeting in the Iranian capital Tehran, Ebrahim Raisi highlighted the importance of activating multilateral mechanisms to ensure regional security, particularly in the energy sector, calling for greater policy coordination and synergy among energy-producing countries.

He described his administration's foreign policy priority as boosting ties with neighboring and regional countries.

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Regarding the two countries' political, economic and cultural relations, Raisi expressed Iran's readiness to deepen bilateral and regional cooperation with Qatar in the interest of the two countries.

The Qatari foreign minister extended an official invitation by Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Raisi for the upcoming Gas Exporting Countries Forum, underlining his country's resolve to enhance bilateral ties in political and economic fields.

Al Thani noted that like Iran, Qatar also believes that foreign forces' presence in the region exerts negative consequences, calling on regional countries to promote peace and progress through intraregional cooperation.