US Should Respect Iran's Rights : Mehmanparast

Tehran, Dec 30, IRNA – Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said the US officials should stop taking hostile actions against other countries and respect nations' rights, if they are serious in seeking changes in Washington's foreign policies. Ramin Mehmanparast made the remarks in a meeting with Turkish group media members as well as reporters in Istanbul. About the conflicts within Syria, Mehmanparast said all regional countries including Iran, Turkey and Egypt should help each other bring about regional peace and security. He further cautioned countries over preparing the ground for the West to interfere in the internal affairs of Syria as well as other regional countries. Continuation of conflicts in Syria will benefit no country, stressed the Iranian diplomat. On cancellation of the visit of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Turkey, Mehmanparast said the trip was called off due to the President's busy schedule at the time. Tehran and Ankara enjoy good and strategic relations, he added. Pointing to Turkey's stands on Syria, Mehmanparast said both Iran and Turkey are against further blood-shedding in Syria and believed that the votes of the majority of Syrians should be respected. He then underlined that no country is entitled to decide for the Syrian people or who should leave or stay in that country. Mehmanparast further criticized the western countries claiming they are defenders of the Syrian people though they keep silent about the oppression against the Bahrainis. He said if democracy is a good thing in Syria, why it is bad in Bahrain and Yemen?/end