Araqchi: PGCC Anti-Iran Remarks Influenced By Negative Policies

Tehran, May 27, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Araqchi dismissed the recent allegations leveled by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) in its annual report against Iran, saying that the PGCC is still affected by “negative and nonconstructive” policies. “This report, itself, is a clear indication that after 32 years and the failure of many of its policies on important regional and international issues, the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council is still unable to recognize the realities,” Araqchi said on Sunday. “In spite of well-wishing calls from the Islamic Republic and certain members of the council, the PGCC is still under the influence of negative and nonconstructive policies,” Araqchi pointed out. He added that the repetition of the council’s meddlesome position on the three Iranian islands of Abu Musa, the Greater and the Lesser Tunbs has no impact on legal and historical realities and will never have an impact in future. Araqchi reiterated that the three islands are inseparable parts of the Iranian territory and all measures taken on those islands have been in line with the Islamic Republic’s sovereign rights. The Greater and the Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa have historically been part of Iran, the proof of which can be found in and corroborated by countless historical, legal and geographical documents in Iran and other parts of the world. However, the United Arab Emirates has repeatedly laid claim to the islands. Elsewhere in his remarks, Araqchi further expressed regret over the PGCC’s allegations on Iran’s negotiations with the Group 5+1 of world powers, saying such claims indicate the lack of information and ill intentions of certain members of the council to peacefully settle important regional and international issues. Iran and the Group 5+1 group of world powers (Russia, China, France, Britain, and the US plus Germany) have so far held several rounds of talks with the main focus being on Iran’s nuclear energy program. The United States, Israel, and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program with the US and the EU using that unfounded allegation as pretext to impose illegal unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Tehran rejects the allegation maintaining that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes./end