The expected visit of Jordan’s King Abdullah to Iran, which was due to take place this month, has been postponed, a diplomatic source was quoted as saying by the Jordan Times newspaper.
The source did not give any reason for the postponement, but indicated that “Jordan and Iran are working to set another date for the visit,” the first by a Jordanian King to Iran since the beginning of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Earlier this month, Iran's Ambassador in Jordan Nasratullah Tajek said King Abdullah was expected to visit Iran by the end of February upon an invitation from Iranian President Mohammad Khatami.
Officials at the Iranian embassy confirmed the postponement but declined to give reasons for the sudden decision when contacted by the paper.
A Royal Court source said the visit will take place on a proper date “which will be decided by the two sides,” the Jordan Times said.
“We did not say that the King will go to Iran this month nor give any day for such a trip,” the source told the paper.
“What we repeatedly said is that His Majesty King Abdullah will visit Iran upon an invitation from President Khatami. But the date was never fixed,” the official said.
AFP quoted Monday a Jordanian official as saying that the postponement was decided upon because of the “situation in the region.”
“Because of the situation in the region we have been unable to set a specific date for the visit,” the official said on condition of anonymity, adding however that the trip was only postponed.
Jordan and Iran resumed their diplomatic ties in the early 1990s after a 10-year break following the 1980-88 Iraq-Iran war during which Jordan sided with Baghdad.
The two countries are currently discussing the partial financing of the multi-million-dollar Disi Water Project which will offer Jordan an additional 100 million cubic meters of water annually – Albawaba.com
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