ID :
185889
Wed, 06/01/2011 - 14:14
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/185889
The shortlink copeid
Iranian Top Diplomat Denies Planned Visit to S. Arabia
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi strongly rejected media reports about a planned visit to Riyadh, reiterating that trip to Saudi Arabia was never on his agenda at all.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting here in Tehran on Wednesday, the minister rejected earlier media reports on his likely visit to Riyadh amid Iranian people and officials' growing protest against the Saudi occupation of Bahrain, and reiterated that the foreign ministry never planned to dispatch a high-ranking delegation to Saudi Arabia.
He further mentioned that a number of European officials have invited him to their countries, but declined to reveal any further detail in this regard.
Earlier this week, a senior Iranian lawmaker reminded Riyadh's collaboration with the Al-Khalifa regime on the suppression of the Bahraini people, and underlined that Iran should attend talks with Saudi Arabia only after the latter withdraws its forces from Bahrain.
"Withdrawal from Bahrain should be set as a precondition for negotiations with the Saudi officials," Member of the parliament's Majority Fraction Seyed Ali Moussavi Jaraf told FNA on Monday.
He also urged the Iranian government to impose economic sanctions against Saudi officials, and said, "We expect the government to pressure the (Saudi)regime to end its plots and intrigues in the region."
Anti-government protesters have been holding peaceful demonstrations across Bahrain since mid-February, calling for an end to the Al Khalifa dynasty's over-40-year rule.
Violence against the defenseless people escalated after a Saudi-led conglomerate of police, security and military forces from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) member states - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar - were dispatched to the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom on March 13 to help Manama crack down on peaceful protestors.
So far, tens of people have been killed, hundreds have gone missing and more than 1,500 others have been injured.
Yet, protests and rallies continued throughout the country in defiance of the martial law put in place by Manama since February.
Bahrainis have repeatedly condemned Riyadh's major role in the suppression of their revolution, and underlined that they would continue protests until the Al Khalifa regime collapses.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting here in Tehran on Wednesday, the minister rejected earlier media reports on his likely visit to Riyadh amid Iranian people and officials' growing protest against the Saudi occupation of Bahrain, and reiterated that the foreign ministry never planned to dispatch a high-ranking delegation to Saudi Arabia.
He further mentioned that a number of European officials have invited him to their countries, but declined to reveal any further detail in this regard.
Earlier this week, a senior Iranian lawmaker reminded Riyadh's collaboration with the Al-Khalifa regime on the suppression of the Bahraini people, and underlined that Iran should attend talks with Saudi Arabia only after the latter withdraws its forces from Bahrain.
"Withdrawal from Bahrain should be set as a precondition for negotiations with the Saudi officials," Member of the parliament's Majority Fraction Seyed Ali Moussavi Jaraf told FNA on Monday.
He also urged the Iranian government to impose economic sanctions against Saudi officials, and said, "We expect the government to pressure the (Saudi)regime to end its plots and intrigues in the region."
Anti-government protesters have been holding peaceful demonstrations across Bahrain since mid-February, calling for an end to the Al Khalifa dynasty's over-40-year rule.
Violence against the defenseless people escalated after a Saudi-led conglomerate of police, security and military forces from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) member states - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar - were dispatched to the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom on March 13 to help Manama crack down on peaceful protestors.
So far, tens of people have been killed, hundreds have gone missing and more than 1,500 others have been injured.
Yet, protests and rallies continued throughout the country in defiance of the martial law put in place by Manama since February.
Bahrainis have repeatedly condemned Riyadh's major role in the suppression of their revolution, and underlined that they would continue protests until the Al Khalifa regime collapses.
