Speaking at his weekly press conference on Monday morning, Hossein Jaberi Ansari touched upon many issues including President Rouhani’s Euro trip, Chinese President’s recent visit to Tehran, Saudi Arabia's cutting of ties and mediation policies, Iran-Turkey natural competition policies and German Chancellor Angela Merkel's upcoming visit to Iran.
Tehran-Rome and Tehran-Paris relations has gone through many ups and downs in the past, Jaberi Ansari said pointing to Rouhani’s today departure for Italy and France. He expressed hope the new trip will provide the grounds and a wide range of opportunities to foster cooperation between Iran and European countries under the so-called JCPOA.
Touching upon Chinese President’s visit to Iran on January 22, FM spokesman said the visit would lay the grounds for the efflorescence of cooperation between Tehran and Beijing during the next quarter-century.
Willing to expand relations in political, economic and many other fields with East Asian country, spokesman added Iran highly regards ties with China during post-sanctions era.
In response to a media reporter’s question about Iran’s probable plan to further cooperation with Turkey and resolve some tensions between the two countries, Jaberi Ansari said Iran-Turkey relations have long been defined by mutual competition; despite a long history of cooperation, competition exists between the two countries.
“Iran's policy towards cooperation with Turkey takes the form of a natural competition and control of differences between the two countries,” he underlined.
Commenting on the policies of some countries including Pakistan to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia, he said the success of any efforts to mediate the issue depends on a radical change in Saudi Arabia’s behavior. “Saudi Arabia has cut its relations with Iran and it should be ready to make any change in the current relations."
In response to a question on the consultations between Germany and Iran over the travel of Chancellor Angela Merkel to Iran, FM spokesman highlighted the talks between Iran's Foreign Ministry and German officials are over German Foreign Minister's visit to Iran. "Other assumptions are just media speculation and it is natural that if there is an agreement between the two countries in terms of high-level visits, the Foreign Ministry will make it public," said he.
LR/Live
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