“The resistant people of Palestine have the right to use their power to remove the aggression and repel the occupation by a regime that has violated their rights for 75 years, and this is a legitimate right that has been recognized,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said at a press conference on Monday.
Referring to the ongoing developments in Palestine, Kanaani said important developments are happening in the occupied territories.
He warned of efforts by the supporters of the Zionist regime, chief among them the United States, to change the place of the oppressor and the oppressed through their propaganda war.
They are turning a blind eye to the crimes of the occupying regime while leveling accusations against the innocent people of Palestine, he said.
“Fortunately, at this stage, we are witnessing the support of a significant number of countries in the world, especially Islamic countries, (for Palestine),” Kanaani noted.
“Iran had and has a clear position, and in recent days, the president and the foreign minister expressed their positions at the highest level and shared their views with foreign officials, and we hope that Islamic countries will be more resolute in supporting the Palestinian people,” he added.
Economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia
On the Iran-Saudi Arabia economic relations, the spokesman said the two countries are on the first phase of new relations (after seven years).
The issue of trade ties has always been under consideration, he said adding that Tehran and Riyadh pay attention to resumption of activities of intergovernmental committees to follow further trade.
Iran-Iraq security agreement
About the implementation of security agreement between Iran and Iraq, Kanaani said the two countries reviewed the latest situation of the agreement during the recent visit of Iraqi security official to Tehran.
As Kanaani underlined, the officials at the Iraqi Kurdistan region have had good cooperation in implementation of the agreement as they settled the Iraqi guards on the joint border crossings to dismantle the separatists bases.
The spokesman hoped the Iran-Iraq security agreement would be fully implemented.
Iran-Azerbaijan joint drills
Speaking about a joint military maneuver between Iran and Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea, the official said he is unaware of the details about the event; meanwhile, there has already been a mechanism for the issue within the framework of the joint cooperation.
Tehran and Baku have had good and constructive cooperation in the military areas, the spokesman said stressing that the General Staff of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces will give further details about the issue if needed.
Reacting to anti-Iran allegations
Kanaani pointed to accusations against Iran on the recent developments in Palestine, saying that the Palestinian people’s resistance enjoys the capability and determination to defend itself as well as to protect its own rights by relying on its own might.
According to the spokesman, leveling accusations against Iran is being done with a political objective to justify the recent failure of the Zionist regime and, of course, in a bid to justify the West's support for the regime.
Claiming contribution of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah to the Palestinian-Israeli war cannot reduce the responsibility of the West, particularly the US, in supporting the atrocities of the Zionist regime at all, he said, adding that the propaganda is being disseminated to divert public opinion and justify their future plots.
The dispatch of the United States aircraft carrier to the region amounts to Washington’s involvement in the violation of the rights of the Palestinian people and the crimes, that are being committed by the Zionist regime, he argued.
Cancelation of Iran-Saudi football match
On the cancelation of a football match between Iranian and Saudi teams, the Foreign Ministry spokesman noted that the cancelation of a match between Iran’s Sepahan and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad football clubs is a sports matter, which must be pursued in its own framework; however, we expect the Asian Football Confederation to issue a fair vote on Iran's complaint against the match observer.
However, the diplomatic apparatus and ministers of both sides have consulted in an attempt to help resolve the football problem within a sports framework, he further noted.
Iran ready to help Azerbaijan, Armenia
Regarding the visit of an Azerbaijani official to Iran, Kanaani said it was in line with the pursuit of relations between the two countries and the recent developments in the Caucasus area.
Iran and Azerbaijan agree that the latter’s embassy should be able to resume its activities based on the understanding reached between the two sides through dialogue, he said.
He also said Tehran is ready to help Azerbaijan and Armenia resolve their issues.
Israel after destabilizing Muslim nations
On the movements of the Zionist regime in the Caucasus region, the spokesman said Iran’s view is clear and “we believe that the presence of the Zionist regime in any region will not create security.”
“The Zionist regime pursues its interests in creating instability and insecurity in Islamic countries. This is a clear position that we have expressed in bilateral and multilateral meetings, and especially with countries that unfortunately tried to establish relations without paying attention to the shaky situation of the regime.”
Further commenting on normalization schemes, Kanaani said Iran is in constant talks with Islamic and regional countries about the need to support Palestine.
The Islamic Republic’s authorities have issued necessary warnings to friendly and Muslim countries about the perils of normalization with the Zionist regime, he added.
Iran ready to help Azerbaijan, Armenia
Regarding a recent visit by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's special aide Khalaf Khalafov to Iran, Kanaani said the trip was in line with the pursuit of relations between the two countries and the recent developments in the Caucasus region.
Iran and Azerbaijan agree that the latter’s embassy should be able to resume its activities in Tehran based on the understanding reached between the two sides, he said.
He also said Tehran is ready to help Azerbaijan and Armenia resolve their disputes.
Israel after destabilizing Muslim nations
On the provocations of the Zionist regime in the Caucasus region, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Iran’s position in this regard is clear and “we believe that the presence of the Zionist regime in any region will not create security.”
“The Zionist regime pursues its interests in creating instability and insecurity in Islamic countries. This is a clear position that we have expressed in bilateral and multilateral meetings, and especially with countries that unfortunately tried to establish relations without paying attention to the shaky situation of the regime.”
Further commenting on normalization schemes between Israel and certain countries, Kanaani said Iran is in constant talks with Islamic and regional countries about the need to support Palestine.
The Islamic Republic’s authorities have issued necessary warnings to friendly and Muslim countries about the perils of normalization with the Zionist regime, he added.
JCPOA issues
Commenting on remarks made by the European Union representative for security policy Josep Borrell that Iran has not fulfilled its commitments under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Kanaani said the JCPOA is a multilateral agreement and all parties to the deal must honor their commitments.
He said the parties which have not honored its obligations under the JCPOA is the United States as well as European countries.
I’ve no information about the time of new round of indirect talks between Iran and the US, meanwhile, the path of diplomacy is still open and the negotiations can be held indirectly and via exchange of messages, he noted.
Future visit of President Raisi to Turkiye
Elsewhere, the spokesman referred to a future visit of the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Turkiye, saying that the trip to the neighboring state can help foster Tehran-Ankara relations although he insisted that no time and date has been set for the visit.
About Turkey’s repeated attacks on northern Iraq, Kanaani said the issue is related to both states and should be resolved within the framework of their bilateral relations, he underlined.
What matters to Iran is respecting the territorial integrity of other countries and their national sovereignty, and that no country should be threatened from other states’ territory, he said.
“Terrorism is a common threat for regional countries, and joint cooperation in the fight against terrorism should be offered among the regional governments,” Kanaani said.
Afghan refugees
He referred to the issue of Afghan refugees in Iran and said that the crisis and the dilemma that dear Afghan citizens are facing is the consequence of over 45 years of foreign aggression against Afghanistan which he said has forced the Afghans to take refuge in countries like Iran.
Kanaani argued that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s authorities are committed to assist the Afghan citizens on humanitarian grounds, adding that “we have made the best of our efforts so far”.
He said Iran has tried to raise the issue of immigration and the rights of the Afghan citizens at international summits, adding that the issue requires international attention and support.
While the Iranian authorities are trying to pave the way for the resettlement of Afghan refugees in Iran; unfortunately, we see a propaganda campaign in cyberspace, where certain provocative acts are being made in a bid to create crises and concerns with the aim of destroying the relationship between the two nations of Iran and Afghanistan, he warned.
The recent earthquake in Afghanistan is a bitter incident, the spokesman said, reiterating his condolences to the Afghan nation.
Kanaani said that the Red Crescent Society of Iran started delivering aid to quake-stricken areas in Afghanistan as soon as unfolded, adding that an Iranian team of relief forces have travelled to the country to assist the people affected by the incident.
Azerbaijan-Nakhchivan corridor
Commenting on a new round of cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan to expand cargo transport corridors in the region, Kanaani said Tehran welcomes efforts to expand networks connecting Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan via the Iranian territory.
“This is not a new issue as Iran has offered its corridor to Azerbaijan for the past 34 years to cooperate with the country,” said Kanaani.
He added, however, that Iran supports any new idea to expand transport cooperation with Azerbaijan while insisting on its position that launching new corridors should respect the territorial integrity of the countries in the region.
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