South Africa and Qatar agreed to ”remain engaged” with Iran and other parties in dealing with the nuclear situation in that country, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.
Qatar, like South Africa, is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Iran has refused to suspend its nuclear-enrichment programme in the face of international pressure.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad was on a visit to the Persian Gulf ahead of the seventh Council of Ministers meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association in Iran.
In Qatar, Pahad also discussed African peace and security issues including Somalia, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.
On the Middle East, South Africa welcomed the Mecca agreement between the Palestinian government and Hamas last month.
”Both sides [South Africa and Qatar] also reiterated calls for the establishment of an independent state of Palestine based on 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital,” said Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa.
”Both sides called on the governments of Israel and Palestine to remain committed to this goal and enter into final status negotiations.”
The two countries further called for an end to sanctions against the Palestinian government and for discussions with the newly formed Palestinian government to start without pre-conditions. — Sapa