Tehran, IRNA – Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh rejected on Friday a recent statement by foreign ministers of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council about three islands in southern Iran.
Khatibzadeh said the islands of Abu Musa, the Lesser Tunb, and the Greater Tunbs belong to Iran, adding that the repetitive and tedious statements issued in this regard will not change the status of these islands.
The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman also said the country rejects any interference in its missile and peaceful nuclear energy programs as well as in its defense deterrent policies.
He also reiterated that Iran prioritizes expansion of cooperation and relations with all neighboring states, while rejecting any foreign interference.
Khatibzadeh expressed hope that a few member states of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council would revise their anti-Iran policies and try to enhance diplomacy based on intra-regional talks and confidence-building.
The Persian Gulf Cooperation Council should be aware that unacceptable demands and baseless accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran will not help resolve problems of the region, he said.
According to the spokesman, the Persian Gulf region needs to alter the paradigm of depending on external powers and pursue constructive and regional interaction based on an all-inclusive, instead of deletion, doctrine
Source: Islamic Republic News Agency – IRNA
