Iran Keen to Expand Ties with All Neighboring Countries: Rouhani

The Islamic Republic of Iran always calls for peace and stability in all countries, especially the regional states and Iran’s neighbors, Rouhani said in a Thursday meeting with a group of Iranian expatriates in Turkey’s Istanbul.

“The administration’s plan and resolve is based on the development of relations with all countries, neighboring states in particular,” he reiterated.

“As compared with the past, a better situation is now created, and we should take advantage of that in a bid to promote relations and cooperation with other countries,” Rouhani stressed.

“Iran today is a stable and safe country in the region, and there are appropriate conditions and grounds for investment in it, which could be tapped into in the best way possible,” he added.

In similar remarks earlier this month, Spokesman for the Iranian Administration Mohammad Baqer Nobakht reiterated the country’s willingness to have friendly relations with its neighbors, Muslim states in particular.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s administration is keen to have good ties with all neighboring countries, particularly Muslim states,” Nobakht said in his weekly press conference held here in Tehran.

As for Saudi Arabia though, he said, it has made certain moves against Iran that need to be corrected.

“We have no official or secret negotiation with Saudi Arabia. We would declare it if there is any,” he added.

He further noted that certain neighboring countries are trying to mediate between Tehran and Riyadh, but that Iran’s stance is very clear: Saudi Arabia should change its behavior.

Tensions ran high between Iran and Saudi Arabia in recent months mainly due to Riyadh’s execution of prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, and a subsequent attack by outraged Iranian protesters on the Saudi embassy in Tehran, which resulted in the Arab country’s decision to sever its ties with the Islamic Republic.