Palestinian foreign minister open to Iran visit
In an exclusive interview, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said he would accept an official invitation to visit Tehran if such an offer were made.
![Palestinian Foreign Minister al-Malki attends a meeting with Arab foreign ministers at Arab League headquarters in Cairo Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki attends a meeting with Arab foreign ministers at Arab League headquarters in Cairo September 12, 2011. Arab League ministers agree to submit a Palestinian bid for statehood to the United Nations, while the EU earlier said it has still not decided on a united position regarding a Palestinian bid. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El-Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR2R7MQ](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2014/02/RTR2R7MQ-1.jpg/RTR2R7MQ-1.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=4MblMAKF)
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki is willing to visit Iran if he receives an official invitation. In an exclusive interview, he told Al-Monitor: “If an official invitation is directed to me, I will accept it. If they choose to invite the president, I would go and prepare for such an official visit.”
Malki’s public openness to the Islamic Republic followed a high-level January visit by Fatah Central Committee member Jibril Rajoub to Tehran, where he met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Although Malki said Rajoub’s visit was not officially sanctioned by the ministry, he is open to further engagement with Iran.