Defense and Security

Iran, Qatar sign defensive pact

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Qatar signed a defensive protocol to increase cooperation between the two neighboring countries. The agreement was signed between Iran's visiting Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Qatar, Hamad Bin Ali al-Atiya, in Doha. The document pointed to the cultural, religious and age-old relations between the two countries and stressed the necessity for the expansion of defense cooperation between Iran and Qatar. The two sides also stressed exchange of technical and expert delegations, expansion of cooperation in personnel training and joint campaign against terrorism and elements behind insecurities in the region. During their meeting, the two sides called the document a major step towards establishment and strengthening of tranquility and durable security in the sensitive region of the Persian Gulf.

Jordan, UAE ink security cooperation accord

Jordan and the United Arab Emirates signed a security cooperation agreement that covers, among other things, joint efforts to combat terrorism. The Undersecretary of the Jordanian Interior Ministry Mokhaimer Abu Jamous and his UAE counterpart Gen. Seif Abdullah Shaafar signed the accord, an official statement said. 'The conclusion of the agreement will give a push to our bilateral cooperation in facing challenges, foremost terrorism, crime and drug trafficking,' Shaafar said during the signing ceremony. He underscored the importance of the role being played by Jordanian security personnel in training UAE officials. The agreement comes a few days after the Jordanian government extradited to the UAE authorities two Palestinians suspected of involvement in the January 20 assassination of a prominent Hamas member, Mahmoud Mabhouh, at a Dubai hotel. Minister of State for Media Affairs Nabil Sharif declined to identify the two Palestinians or reveal their affiliations, but said that their extradition had taken place within the observed legal and diplomatic framework.