Iran Urges Arab League Chief to Avoid Divisive Comments

Reacting to the latest remarks by the Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Qassemi directly addressed him and said, addressed AL Secretary General and said, “We think it’s better for you to stop making divisive remarks under the influence of certain regional states.”

“I remind you of the fact that you are the secretary general of the Arab League not a mere promoter of the policies of certain states with special behaviours and manners which stand in contradiction with the fate and interests of Arab and Muslim states of this sensitive region of the world,” he added.

“The Islamic Republic has established balanced and wise relations with most regional states and neighbours based on cooperation, dialogue, common interests, mutual respect and non-interference in each others’ internal affairs with due attention to the rights of neighbourliness and regional security, stability and interests,” Qassemi said.

This is a fundamental and long-term policy which Iran has pursued so far and will do so in future, he added.

Qassemi further noted that Iran has stood by regional states more firmly than ever in the times of need and when requested by them, and has constructive exchanges with their nations and governments.

He said Iran believes the main audience of Gheit’s remarks should be the very states which spend billions of dollars each year from their nations’ wealth to purchase security from extra-regional states.

“But what they achieve at the end of the day is just insults and a growing concern over their future. As a neighbour and Muslim state in the region, we are deeply regretful to see such a situation has dominated the region,” he said.

Back on Thursday, Arab League chief said Iran ”must respect territorial integrity” of Arab countries. In an address to the Mediterranean Dialogues conference in Rome, he noted ”Iran, which is trying to defend its own interests, should think about changing its attitude towards Arab countries.”