TEHRAN – Iran prioritizes expansion of relations with Persian Gulf littoral states especially Qatar, President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said in Doha on Friday.

In a meeting with the Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Ahmadinejad said the relations between the countries on the Persian Gulf are based on brotherhood and friendship.

“Expansive cooperation for deepening religious, cultural, and historical affinities is important for the regional countries,” added the president who attended the opening ceremony of the 15th Asian Games officially opened Friday in the Qatari capital.

Ahmadinejad described the implementation process of the previously signed agreements as satisfactory, saying, “Further activation of the joint cooperation commission in the fields of energy, investment, financial and banking affairs, dispatch of expert workforces, and security cooperation will promise prosperous Tehran-Doha relations.”

The Qatari emir said that the promotion of ties between the regional states will boost peace and stability in the region, leading to the economic development of the neighboring states.

“All regional countries should make efforts to prevent division and strife between Shias and Sunnis in Iraq, because this (war) is what the enemies want,” Thani added.

Qatar will not take part in any coalition against Iran, he noted.

“Qatar not only will not support moves against Iran, but also it will do its utmost to block the implementation of such moves, because a strong and developed Iran will be beneficial to all regional countries,” the emir said.