Abbas set to visit Iran eyeing wider cooperation

A senior Palestinian official said on Monday that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to pay a visit to Iran within the coming two months.

Ahmed Majdalani, official in Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and aide to Abbas, who is visiting Tehran, told Xinhua that he discussed with Iranian officials arrangements for the president's planned visit.

He added that PLO delegation's current visit to Iran aims at regaining and correcting the Palestinian ties with the Islamic republic.

The Palestinian delegation agreed with the Iranian officials to form a joint committee to cooperate in political issues, trade exchange and education.

The ties between the Palestinian National Authority and Iran declined over the past 10 years in the view of Iran's support for Palestinian military factions which oppose the PNA, besides Iran's opposition to the peace with Israel.

Abbas' last visit to Iran was when he joined a non-aligned states conference which was held in Tehran in 2012.

Majdalani conveyed a letter from President Abbas to Iranian leaders, explaining the situation in the Palestinian territories and the endless Israeli assaults on the Palestinians and their holy places.

Majdalani also discussed with senior Iranian officials the situation in Syria and the regional efforts to end the crisis there.

President Abbas had proposed a complete ceasefire in Syria, formation of a transitional Syrian unity government and holding presidential election within six months.