TEHRAN - Foreign powers seek to hatch plots to cause harm to Middle East countries and regional states must adopt smart approaches to thwart such schemes, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Tuesday.

Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks during a meeting in Tehran with the Chairman of Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee, Ali bin Samikh Al Marri.

He added foreigners intend to harm Middle East nations, which have been coexisting in peace and security for centuries.

Amir-Abdollahian underlined that Iran’s policy is based on the expansion of relations with the Persian Gulf littoral states and called on Tehran and Doha to continue talks with the purpose of improving ties.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran stresses the necessity for strengthening relations with its neighbors based on the principles of good neighborliness and adopting smart approaches in the light of sensitive regional conditions,” he noted.

The Qatari human rights official, for his part, called Iran a strategically important country in the region which also enjoys great cultural, scientific and economic capabilities.

He added that his country is determined to bolster relations with Iran.

SP/P