An advisor to the Leader says Tehran is not concerned that visits by foreign delegations to Iran in the wake of the recent nuclear deal aimed at setting the stage for investment and trade may clear the way for hostile governments to "infiltrate" into the country.
Foreign delegations come to the country at the invitation of Iranian officials and negotiations are held in Iran, so there is nothing to be worried about; however, remaining vigilant in the face of "the enemy's plots" is a top priority, Ali Akbar Velayati said on Monday on the sidelines of a meeting with visiting Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, IRNA reported.
The official made the remarks in reference to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei who recently voiced concern over the US plot to make political, economic and cultural inroads in Iran following the July 14 nuclear deal with the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany), which is due to go into force in the coming months.
The Leader underlined the need for higher vigilance in the face of plots to make inroads into Iran's affairs by taking advantage of the conditions expected to emerge after economic sanctions are lifted, which will allow an influx of foreign businesses into the domestic market.
Underscoring Iran's determination to enhance friendly relations with the Europeans based on mutual respect and understanding, Velayati stated, "Iran is a strong country and these sorts of relations cannot be a cause of concern for such a major player in the region."
Lucrative Market
Asked how he assesses Iran's strategy in the post-sanctions era and the increasing number of visiting delegations, the advisor said, "Iran's relationship with Europe has a long history and it came to a halt just over the last few years due to unfair sanctions imposed on Iran. We are restoring relations with them; moreover, they are competing for a market share in Iran since the untapped capacities in various sectors in our country have transformed it into a lucrative market."
Velayati maintains regional conflicts cannot be defused unless Iran is part of solutions.
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, the former foreign minister stated, "Unlike Iran which believes in formation of a democratic government in Syria with the help of (President Bashar) al-Assad, some countries insist on the overthrow of Assad's government the consequence of which has been war, terrorism and the current migrant crisis afflicting Europe."
He stressed that if the Syria crisis had a military solution, the dispute would have come to an end long ago.
"A strong government can facilitate democratic reforms," Velayati said, noting that toppling Assad and interfering in Syria's domestic affairs are two big mistakes in view of the fact that terrorist groups are active in the Arab country.
