TEHRAN- Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani, has noted that Tehran is considered a full member of the bloc from January 01.

Addressing reporters at a weekly press conference on Monday, Kanaani added that “the BRICS group has gained more weight with the addition of new members. One of the outcomes of improving Iran’s international status is its membership in the BRICS.”

“Assassination of Iranian general cannot make Israel survive”

Kanaani also said that the assassination of a top military advisor by Israel for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in Syria would not contribute to the survival of the “wicked and fake” regime. 

Denouncing the assassination of Brigadier General Seyyed Razi Mousavi, he emphasized that such actions will not help the Israeli regime in any way.

On December 27, Mousavi was assassinated in an Israeli attack in a Damascus neighborhood. He was a close companion of senior Iranian anti-terror hero General Qassem Soleimani, who was also assassinated in a January 2020 U.S. drone attack in Iraq. 

The Iranian spokesperson held the officials of the Israeli regime responsible for the fallout from Mousavi’s killing, pointing out that the Arab nation had invited him to Syria on an advisory mission.

He declared that Iran has the legal right to react to Israel’s action “at any time and place.”

“According to the UN Charter, Iran has the right to respond to this criminal act and has asked the Security Council to fulfill its responsibility vis-à-vis the maintenance of international peace and prevention of putting regional peace in jeopardy,” he added.

Kanaani went on to say that attacking Iranian advisors who are legitimately present in Syria is obviously wicked and a flagrant betrayal of the Arab nation’s territorial integrity.

He cautioned that such actions would only aid terrorists and jeopardize regional stability.

Kanaani also averred that “resistance movements are liberating movements. Based on internationally recognized principles, we refer to these movements as liberation movements. Iran proudly announces that it supports Palestinian resistance movements and their legitimate fight for the liberation of their land.”

Iran regards assassination of General Soleimani as international crime

Elsewhere in his remarks, the spokesperson emphasized Iran’s determination to pursue the U.S. assassination of General Soleimani both inside and outside the country, emphasizing the “remarkable” steps taken thus far.

Any reasonable criminal court would consider General Soleimani’s assassination to be an international crime, and the culprit must be brought to justice, he continued. 

Iran-Egypt ties

Given the Tehran-Cairo rapprochement, Kanaani stated that the two countries’ foreign ministers’ roadmap is being followed, and that there is a positive vibe in the bilateral relations.

“We are interested in the step-by-step development of relations between two important Muslim countries within the framework of the defined roadmap,” he added.

In 1980, Egypt broke off diplomatic ties with Iran after accepting the overthrown Pahlavi ruler of Iran and recognizing the apartheid regime in Israel.

“Tehran openly expressed its position on Persian Gulf islands to Moscow”

When asked about Tehran-Moscow relations, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that after the conclusion of the 6th Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum in Morocco, Iran had specifically notified Russia of its position on the three Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb, and the Lesser Tunb.

In keeping with Tehran’s good neighborliness policy, Kanaani cited “constructive and advancing” relations between Iran and Russia in a number of spheres and said that both countries had the political will to deepen their connections.

He clarified, however, that bilateral ties do not always imply agreement on all international matters, pointing out that different nations have different opinions on different subjects depending on their own national interests.

Highlighting the importance of observing mutual respect in relations among countries, he said, “The good relations between Iran and Russia do not bar us from expressing our views on other issues.”

“U.S. officials are nescient towards Iran position in the world”

Kanaani responded to American officials’ call for Iran to be wiped off the map by saying they either don’t know the world or don’t know how much Iran weighs.

The Iranian diplomat noted that such remarks plainly demonstrate irrational thinking among American leaders.

According to Kanaani, such irrational utterances are the result of some American lawmakers’ deep loyalty to the Israeli regime.