[P]GCC claims on 3 islands meddling in Iran affairs

The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman says the recent remarks made by some Arab officials on the three Iranian Persian Gulf islands are interference in the Islamic Republic’s internal affairs.


[Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council's ([P]GCC) 14th consultative summit meeting convened in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on May 14 to discuss a proposal for the establishment of a union between the council’s member countries. The proposal has been considered by experts as a measure by Riyadh to merge with its smaller neighbor, Bahrain, which has been the scene of popular unrest since February 2011.

Speaking to reporters following the meeting, the Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal charged Iran with threatening the Persian Gulf Arab states. He also upheld the recent claims by the United Arab Emirates that Iran has occupied the three Persian Gulf islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa.

“Raising or repeating any claim about the three Iranian islands is considered by the Islamic Republic of Iran as an uncalculated remark which…lacks political and legal authenticity since it is incompatible with the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs,” Ramin Mehmanparast said on Tuesday.

Reacting to Saul al-Faisal’s remarks about a possible merger of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, the spokesman noted that paying attention to people’s legitimate demands is the best solution to the ongoing crisis in Bahrain.

“Any form of foreign interference [in Bahrain] or [proposing] baseless plans without paying attention to people’s votes will only deepen the existing wounds,” he added.

Mehmanparast said Iran believes that people’s support is the real source of power for the regional countries.

“[Iran] believes that regional cooperation within this framework will meet the interests of the Islamic world and foil the Zionist conspiracies that aim to create rifts,” he noted.


/PressTV/