The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that Tehran and Beirut are determined to develop relations and their ties are not based on request of any third side.
Saeed Khatibzadeh made the remarks at his weekly press briefing in Tehran.
Referring to recent visit of Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian to Beirut, the spokesman said the talks in Lebanon were after pursuing implementation of projects without paying attention to pressures and sanctions.
Amirabdollahian and his delegation arrived in the Lebanese capital on October 7 to hold talks with the country’s top officials including the president, foreign minister and parliament speaker on various issues.
About Amirabdollahian’s flight to Syria which took place after his visit to Lebanon, the spokesman dismissed the rumors about fueling the foreign minister’s plane, adding that the visit to Damascus had been pre-scheduled and the fuel problem has been a smear.
Turning to the issue of the parliamentary election in Iraq, Khatibzadeh said that the event was in continuation of democracy in the country.
The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes successful elections in Iraq, he said, adding that Tehran thinks that Baghdad is on the right way to democracy.
Also about attack on anti-Iranian bases in Iraq, the spokesman said that the Islamic Republic has told the Iraqi friends and those in Iraqi Kurdistan region over and over again that it is against neighborliness that some anti-Iran bases exist in Iraq.
Those bases cannot continue their work and Iran will act on the basis of its interests wherever needed, he underlined.
Elsewhere, the spokesman mentioned about online talks between foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries and said that a meeting is slated to be held in Tehran but its time has not been set yet.
He went on to say that Russia, at the suggestion of Iran, will attend the Tehran meeting.
Also about the situation of Afghan Shias, the spokesman said the situation of tthe Shias, women and freedom of expression are “our red lines.”
Touching upon Tehran-Baku ties, the spokesman said that the relations are normal and that Iran’s borders and its air space are open.
The Islamic Republic has expressed its concerns and they have promised to remove them, Khatibzadeh said, stressing that Tehran’s main principle follows brotherly behavior.
At his remarks, the spokesman referred to Iran-Saudi Arabia talks which as he noted are underway without interruption.
Further, he referred to travel of the governor of a northeastern Iranian province to Afghanistan and said that Iran has good ties with the neighboring state.
About the developments in Afghanistan, the spokesman said it is soon to discuss inclusive government in that country.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Khatibzadeh talked of Vienna talks and said they will be held.
About time of return to the talks, the spokesman said it will be shorter than the US return.
About Azerbaijan’s drills in the Caspian Sea, the spokesman said the region is so sensitive and some events have made it more sensitive.
Iran made its northwestern neighbors including Azerbaijan informed of its maneuvers, he said, stressing the importance of following principles of neighborliness.
It is important to understand the regional conditions and follow principles of the Caspian Sea’s situation, he added.
About the presence of the Zionist regime of Israel in Azerbaijan, the spokesman said that Israel wants to make the region insecure, so Tehran and Baku should pay attention to not let the third party interfere in their bilateral ties.
Iran is not kidding about its national security, he said.
Source: Iranian Agencies
