West pursuing a wrong policy toward Iran: Iranian FM

TEHRAN, Feb. 4(MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said that the West is following a wrong approach toward the Islamic Republic. In a recent interview with the Lebanese daily newspaper Al Akhbar, Salehi said unfortunately certain Western countries are under the delusion that if they intensify pressure on Iran, the country will give in to their pressure. However, Iran is a civilized country with a rich history and enough experience of facing such pressures, he said, adding that God willing, Iran will cope with the pressure. Although the Islamic Republic may face some obstacles, it will surmount all of them through the will of God, Salehi noted. Elsewhere in his remarks, the foreign minister said that Tehran is not talking about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, because the strait is very important to Iran and many other countries in the world. The Strait of Hormuz is considered the world’s most strategically important chokepoint which represents about 30% of the world’s seaborne oil shipments. Salehi went on to say that Iran, more than any other country, is concerned about the security and stability in the Persian Gulf region, but maintaining regional security is a collective responsibility which should be shared by all countries in the region. He also said that Tehran advises regional countries to cooperate with each other in preserving security in the Persian Gulf region. Commenting on the Islamic Republic’s stance toward the Arab League’s decision to report the Syria case to the United Nations Security Council so that more sanctions would be imposed against the country, Salehi said that he was surprised by the Arab League’s decision. He said that he did not understand why the Arab League, which sent a mission to Syria to help end the crisis in the country, called a halt to the mission’s activities and referred the case to the council. From the beginning, the Islamic Republic’s officials reiterated that Syria was the first country which supported the resistance movement against Israel and that the country is the strongest link in the chain of resistance in the region.