For decades, Jordan-Iran relations were described as tepid at best, with Tehran initiating contacts in hopes of improving bilateral ties. Amman has kept its distance, making sure it does not anger its Gulf allies, especially Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and the United States. Throughout the years, a number of Iranian envoys visited Jordan and met with top Jordanian officials. Not much came out of such meetings. Under former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad relations worsened, as Amman recalled its ambassador and refrained from appointing a new one.

But Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's brief visit on Jan. 14 signaled a possible change. There is a new president in Iran, Hassan Rouhani, with whom the West is eager to do business. Rouhani has sent conciliatory messages to the Gulf states expressing willingness to mend fences and overcome problems. The signing of an agreement between the West and Iran on the Islamic Republic’s controversial nuclear program was an important landmark.

Zarif met with Jordan’s prime minister, foreign minister and King Abdullah, the latter of whom reiterated Jordan’s position on the Syrian crisis, which is based on finding a political solution to “cease the bloodshed and preserve the unity of the country and its people.” The king stressed the importance of resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict “in line with the two-state solution and the 2002 Arab peace initiative.” Zarif stressed Iran’s eagerness to coordinate with Jordan on regional and security issues.

Zarif’s regional visit came about a week before the scheduled convening of the Geneva II conference on Syria — in which Iran’s participation is still pending — and in the midst of US Secretary of State John Kerry’s latest tour of the region, during which he discussed proposals for an agreement on final status issues between Israel and the Palestinians.