Doha-Mashhad flight launched

Qatar and Iran have launched a direct flight from the Holy Iranian city of Mashhad to the Qatari capital Doha, the official news agency Irna said on July 10.

It said the twice-weekly flight was inaugurated on July 9 "to provide easy and speedy access to the holy shrine of the (eight Shiite) Imam Reza in Mashhad by pilgrims from the Arabian Gulf states."

The Iranian airline Aseman is providing the flights between the city in northeastern Iran and Qatar, Irna added.