TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has reacted to Russia’s controversial joint statement with Iran’s Arab neighbors, underlining Tehran’s seriousness in ensuring its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The remarks were made during a joint presser by Amir Abdollahian and his Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, who visited Tehran on Monday afternoon.

“Recently, in the joint statement of the southern littoral states of the Persian Gulf and Russia, a paragraph added about the territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We do not pull any punches over the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We are displeased with what mentioned in one of the paragraphs of this statement regarding the three islands that belong to Iran forever,” Amir Abdollahian stated. 

He also said that after summoning the Russian ambassador to Iran over the issue, Iran received explanations from Russia in this regard via diplomatic channels. “We do not see these explanations as enough,” he noted, adding that Iran will “never tolerate” such statements. 

Russian Ambassador to Tehran Alexey Dedov was summoned to the Iranian foreign ministry last week over the joint Russian-Arab statement that called into question Iranian sovereignty over its islands in the Persian Gulf.

Russia and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries issued the statement after a round of strategic dialogue in which they reiterated the UAE position on the three Iranian islands of Abu Mousa, the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb, which Iran considers an unnegotiable part of its territory. 

Alireza Enayati, head of the Foreign Ministry Persian Gulf Department, summoned Dedov to convey Iran’s dissatisfaction with the statement. 

Also, several Iranian MPs have so far criticized the joint statement and called for Russian course correction. 

Enayati told the Russian ambassador that the three islands belong to Iran forever and called on Russia to correct its position in this regard. The joint statement endorsed the UAE's efforts to peacefully settle the issue of the islands through dialogue or international institutions. 

The Russian ambassador underlined Moscow’s respect for Iran’s territorial integrity and said he would convey the Iranian protest to his country. 

Earlier, Nasser Kanaani, the spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, had reacted to the statement, underlining Iran’s sovereignty over the islands.

Iran reiterates Persian Gulf dialogue initiative 

Iran has once again reiterated its willingness to hold a regional dialogue in the Persian Gulf region with the presence of all the eight countries of the region. 

Iran’s renewed interest in the initiative was discussed in the meeting between the foreign ministers of Iran and Oman.
 
Amir Abdollahian had previously raised the idea of forming a kind of regional platform for dialogue between the countries of the Persian Gulf during a recent tour of some of these countries.

In the meeting, Amir Abdollahian expressed satisfaction with the growing relations between the two brotherly and friendly countries of Iran and Oman, saying the promotion of joint cooperation in various sectors was indicative of the depth of bilateral ties, according to the Iranian foreign ministry. 

The top Iranian diplomat highlighted the variety of grounds for bilateral cooperation between Iran and Oman, saying, “We have made much progress in mutual ties, and this meeting provides an opportunity to review the previously-inked deals and evaluate the scale of progress and implementation of the agreements between the top authorities of the two countries.”

Amir Abdollahian underlined as significant the responsibility of the diplomatic apparatuses of Iran and Oman in pursuing and securing the implementation of the previously-signed agreements, adding that it is necessary for the senior directors and experts of the two sides to keep up consultations aimed at drawing up a comprehensive document for long-term bilateral cooperation.

The Iranian foreign minister emphasized the significance of the upcoming session of the Joint Economic Commission between Iran and Oman, which is slated to be held in Tehran in the near future, expressing certitude that the outcomes of the meeting will play an efficient role in boosting cooperation between the two countries in different spheres.

 FM lauds Oman’s efforts to help lift sanctions on Iran

He described Oman as a very close friend of Iran in the region and expressed gratitude for the Sultanate’s constructive efforts toward removing the cruel sanctions against the Iranian nation and helping to improve and bolster its relations with some regional states.

The chief diplomat emphasized the Islamic Republic’s policy of good-neighborliness, dialog and cooperation with neighbors, and said that he put forward a proposal, in the same context, for the establishment of a dialog and cooperation forum among the eight Persian Gulf littoral states during his trip to four countries on the southern coasts of the Persian Gulf.

He added that Iran believes the realization of the initiative can strengthen dialog, collective cooperation and lasting security in the region.

Amir Abdollahian also relayed Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s warm greetings to Oman’s Sultan.

“Exemplary ties”

For his part, the Omani foreign minister similarly conveyed the greetings of the Sultan of Oman to the Iranian president.

He also described relations between Iran and Oman as exemplary, and voiced satisfaction with the growing bilateral ties.

Albusaidi said it is necessary for the two countries to constantly review different aspects of bilateral cooperation and the process of the implementation of the documents signed earlier between the two countries and set the stage for the promotion of cooperation, especially in the economic and trade sector.

He considered the role of the foreign ministries of the two countries to be important in guiding and managing the relations.

The top Omani diplomat expressed readiness for continued joint meetings and consultations between the directors of the two foreign ministries in order to review the previously signed documents and agreements as well as their implementation process to help expand ties and remove the obstacles on that path.

He stressed the importance of the upcoming meeting of the Iran-Oman Joint Economic Commission, and welcomed any effort to pave the way for meetings between other high-ranking officials of the two countries in Tehran and Muscat in the near future.

The talks also focused on facilitating commercial cooperation between the two countries as well as strengthening cooperation in the field of transit and transportation within the framework of the Ashgabat Agreement and the North-South Corridor

The two sides also discussed other bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

“Sacrilege to holy books lead to promulgation of extremism”

During their joint presser, Amir Abdollahian also touched on the desecration of the holy Quran in Europe, saying that sacrilege to holy books lead to the promulgation of terrorism and extremism. 

The Iranian foreign minister condemned the Quran burning in Sweden, saying, “We strongly condemn moves like this, which only promote terrorism and extremism.”

He also expressed regret that desecration of Abrahamic religions continues in Europe. 
Iran has taken strong moves against Sweden after the Scandinavian country issued permission to a fanatic to burn the holy Quran, which caused an uproar globally. 

Amir Abdollahian announced in early July that Tehran had decided to put off sending its newly-appointed ambassador to Sweden over the country’s controversial move of allowing insult to the holy book. 

Iran has recently appointed a new ambassador to Sweden and all the procedures for the new ambassador have been done. But sending the ambassador was put on hold over Sweden’s outrageous move.