Iran rejects PGCC-U.S. joint statement

TEHRAN,Oct.2(MNA) – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast on Monday dismissed the allegations made against Iran in the most recent joint statement issued by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council and the United States. The foreign ministers of the PGCC and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held their second ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sunday. They issued a final statement in which they expressed their deep concern over Iran’s alleged intervention in the internal affairs of PGCC member states and called on the Islamic Republic to respect international principles in this regard. They also called on Iran to fulfill its international obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Security Council resolutions, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) obligations. Mehmanparast dismissed the statement as “biased” and said that a poor understanding of the situation on the ground and regional developments on the part of certain countries and the United States’ interference in regional affairs are two main reasons for instability and insecurity in the Persian Gulf region. He added, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has proved in practice its serious commitment to regional peace and security and relations with neighbors based on good neighborliness, and regards military and security intervention of the United States and its allies in regional (developments), such as Syrian developments as the reasons for the continuation of tension, insecurity, and bloodshed.” Elsewhere in his remarks, Mehmanparast stated that Iran’s nuclear activities are transparent and are being carried out according to IAEA regulations. He also said that the United States has always obstructed the process of talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) over the country’s nuclear program.