Iran’s foreign policy revolves around efforts to strengthen bonds between Muslim countries, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said.
“The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic has been founded on a commitment to helping promote contacts and strong bonds among brotherly Muslim countries,” the Leader said in a meeting with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev in Tehran on Saturday.
Underscoring the necessity of standing up to “bullying” powers as a “divine” and “Islamic” principle, he stressed that Muslim states should try to boost their relations to help counter plots by such powers.
“Hegemonic and aggressive powers constantly seek to devise evil plots against every nation in the world. But Islam wants to safeguard the honor of Muslim nations,” Ayatollah Khamenei said, adding, “Such plots can only be confronted and thwarted through mounting resistance and bolstering relations between Muslim countries.”
Brotherly Neighbors
Atambayev, who arrived in Tehran on Friday at the head of a high-level political and economic delegation, said the two sides should draw on their similarities to improve bilateral ties.
“Iran and Kyrgyzstan are two brotherly neighbors with a common religion, history and culture and both nations hold their freedom and independence in high regard.”
He called for establishment of road, rail and air links to facilitate transit between the two countries, saying, “The volume of bilateral cooperation should be expanded way beyond the current level.”
Pointing to the closure of the US military base in Kyrgyzstan in June last year, Atambayev was quoted by IRNA as saying, “No country can consider itself superior to others and impose cruel sanctions against other countries.”
He hailed the resistance put up by the Iranians during the sanctions years before the 14 July nuclear deal between Iran and major powers, saying, “We follow the example of the Islamic Republic of Iran which was not weakened, but rather strengthened in the face of sanctions.”
The deal will give Iran sanctions relief in return for temporary limits on its nuclear program.
The Kyrgyz president also held talks with Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani.
In the meeting, Atambayev pointed to the major role the two countries’ parliaments play in decision-making on major policy issues, saying expansion of cooperation between the two legislatures can serve as a “constructive” step toward improved bilateral relations.
Larijani announced Iran’s readiness to increase bilateral cooperation in various domains, noting that removing visa requirement for mutual visits by the two neighbors’ nationals could significantly contribute to elevating the level of collaboration between the two sides’ “tourism, private and business” sectors.
