Mr. Bahram Ghasemi who was speaking in his weekly press conference on Monday, reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to saving Syrian territorial integrity, denouncing speculations of a general accord, albeit clandestine, to disintegrate Syria.
Ghasemi also said the situation in Mosul would soon produce a second success for the front against terrorism, just as in Aleppo, the battle against Takfirists produced results; “we invest much hope in Iraqi Army and the resolve it displays in fighting the hard-hit ISIL now in the verge of collapse in Mosul in a close fight for the city’s neighborhoods; we believe Iraqi government will succeed in ultimate defeat of ISIL,” he told reporters.
On possible correspondence with Saudi Arabian officials to facilitate Iranian hajj pilgrims’ travel to the country, Ghasemi said no official letter had been received from Saudi officials, and the status quo remains the same; highly tense relations.
Still on Aleppo ceasefire plan, Ghasemi told that Moscow trilateral meeting brought coordination to efforts by Turkey, Iran, and Russia in Syria; “the only plan on the horizon for a way out of crisis in Syria is a political accord, which was highly sought by Iran, and the outcome was a ceasefire as a pioneer for a political solution,” he told reporters.
“Mr. Walid al-Moallem visited Iranian officials where both sides expressed firm positions on political solution; there had been a constructive dialogue with Mr. Moallem, which would complete the process started in Moscow. Under current conditions, Turkey, Iran, and Russia would suffice to help Syria to fashion a sort of political solution and no other country would intervene in the process.”
Asked about Iran’s commitments on reworking of Fordow facility, Ghasemi reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to the JCPOA and a general avoidance not to violate the deal first under any circumstances; with the 5+1 commitments, “we only feel some restrictions in banking transactions with the world, and all other commitments had been acted upon; however, there had been some violations elsewhere by specific countries,” Ghasemi said.
“We feel free to have other options should any side to the agreement. violates the deal, either in Fordow or other facilities; we believe the JCPOA could remain in place and be a good example of diplomatic efforts to solve a controversial issue in the international community, and could provide the pubic with positive effects on their economic conditions,” added the spokesperson.
On the question of the speculations in the media that derogatory lines about Islamic resistance groups were reportedly agreed upon in the Syrian ceasefire, Ghasemi believed the Aleppo ceasefire would not be possible unless all groups remained committed, and so far “no violations had been reported; “in a convoluted situation of Aleppo, we believe the ceasefire is still acceptable, and resistance front and forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad are part of the ceasefire, and they will not face adverse conditions, as the media speculations would assume,” he told the press.
Still in a different issue of the dire situations of an Iranian charity worker Narges Kalbasi Ashtari in India, spokesperson said no recent development had happened in her dossier; “however, the Foreign Ministry has launched a line of action, diplomatic and other, to address her issue; no other more extensive action would be welcomed, and would garner criticism by India as interference with domestic affairs; with the independence of branches of government, we still continue our inherent duties to protect Iranians abroad,” he asserted.
On the prospects of relations with Turkey, which experienced a surge with trilateral in Moscow and a U-turn in Turkish foreign policy on espousing a cooperative line in Syria, Ghasemi said that Turkey had gone a long way to change its positions on Syria and the dialogue in Moscow was constructive in engaging the country in a situation it had been acting to undermine the Russian-Iranian initiative.
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