Iran Denounces Saudi-Inspired PGCC Statement
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry deplored the latest statement released by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council for a lack of realism about the regional developments, saying it reflects the Saudi regime’s continued hostility to and political pressures on the other members of the council.
“The final statement of this meeting, like the previous ones, lacks a realistic understanding of (regional) developments, and amounts to the continuation of the Saudi regime’s hostility and political pressure on other countries of this council,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement on Thursday.
He said some members of the council, which are under Riyadh’s pressure, are still fawning over the failed Iranophobia project.
“What has the pursuit of this misguided process over the past decades achieved for regional stability and security?” he asked.
“The Saudi regime, through taking the PGCC and its meetings hostage and imposing its destructive views, spreads hatred and violence across the region,” the spokesman added, Press TV reported.
At the end of the 147th session of the PGCC Ministerial Council held in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the member states issued a statement, accusing Iran of sponsoring terrorism. They also said any possible future negotiations with Iran must include discussions on the Iranian ballistic missiles and nuclear program.
Khatibzadeh pointed out that Iran and the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany have already negotiated and reached a nuclear agreement, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which cannot be renegotiated.
“As the issues of our region do not concern extra-regional countries, the Saudi regime’s attempt to include the council in issues that are basically not a business of the council is fruitless,” he said.
The spokesman also strongly criticized some members of the council for making large military purchases, accepting to host foreign bases and betraying the Palestinian cause by normalizing relations with the Israeli regime.
Khatibzadeh then dismissed the claim about the UAE’s sovereignty over three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf, saying those three islands of the Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa are an integral part of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He called on the PGCC to pay attention to the realities of the region and take a constructive approach in favor of cooperation and dialog instead of issuing outdated statements.
