Tehran Welcomes Better Ties With Regional, Muslim States

Iran’s top diplomat stressed that the Islamic Republic welcomes expansion and normalization of its relations with other regional and Muslim countries, including Egypt and Morocco.
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks during a meeting with ambassadors, charges d'affaires and heads of diplomatic missions from Islamic countries in Tehran on Thursday on the occasion of Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), IRNA reported.
Amir-Abdollahian also expressed satisfaction with the restoration of Iran’s ties with Saudi Arabia through diplomacy and dialogue.
On June 17, the Saudi foreign minister made his first visit to Iran since the two West Asian powers agreed to restore ties following a seven-year rupture.
In a rapprochement deal signed in China on March 10, Tehran and Riyadh agreed on the need to respect each other’s national sovereignty and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of one another.
“In the path of political independence, we will allow neither the West, nor the East, to dominate our country, the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic, and the people of Iran. In line with our interests, however … we welcome expansion of ties with both the East and the West,” Amir-Abdollahian asserted.
“I emphasize that the Islamic world, the region and the neighbors are considered an important foreign policy priority of our government, in addition to strong contacts with all parts of the world.”
In addition, the top diplomat called on the Islamic world to unite against “malicious” plots orchestrated by enemies and the Zionist lobby to destabilize their countries.
He stressed that the enemies of the Muslim Ummah have elaborate schemes to divide Muslim nations.
“Our collective efforts must be directed toward thwarting the schemes of enemies of Islam and the Zionist lobby, which seek to divide Muslim nations, including Sudan,” he stated, highlighting their failure to achieve their objectives in previous conflicts such as those in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq.
Amir-Abdollahian reiterated that the issue of Palestine remains the primary concern and top priority for the Muslim world.
Referring to a recent meeting with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Iran’s top diplomat said the two sides agreed that the Muslim world should remain vigilant in the face of the Israeli regime’s actions against Palestinians.
Iran and Saudi Arabia also agreed to keep supporting the oppressed people of Palestine “with a stronger and more expressive voice,” he added.