AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has said that the massive turnout of the Iranian people in a nationwide rally to mark the 44th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution was a sign of national unity and coherence.
In his weekly briefing with reporters on Monday, Kanaani argued that the Iranian people proved that they will continue to stand by the Islamic Revolution despite all difficulties and despite the hostilities and propaganda campaigns launched by the enemies against the nation.
He said the Iranians have always supported the Islamic Republic over the 44 years that have passed since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, adding that the support is an obvious message to the enemies and those who have tried to create unrest and instability in the country under the guise of backing human rights.
Kanaani further pointed to President Ebrahim Raisi’s imminent trip to China, saying that the official visit is a sign of very good political relations between Iran and China.
He said President Raisi’s visit to Beijing is also an indication of the political will of the high-ranking officials of the two countries to expand bilateral ties.
The spokesman said top Iranian and Chinese officials will exchange views on different political, cultural, economic and trade issues during Raisi’s visit.
Kanaani said Iran and China are planning to finalize their 25- Year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement in the near future, adding that the document would serve as a roadmap to long-term collaboration between the two nations.
He said Iranian and Chinese officials are scheduled to sign some documents related to the 25-year partnership deal during President Raisi’s visit to China.
Kanaani said Iran’s non-oil exports to China reached nearly $14 billion in the Iranian calendar year to late March, adding that the figure was a 58% increase from the previous year and made China the largest buyer of Iranian export shipments over the period.
He said Iran’s imports from China rose to more than $13 billion over the year to March, adding that total trade between the two countries had risen by 43% over the same period.
Asked about Iran’s absence in the 59th Munich Security Conference (MSC), the spokesman said that the aim of holding such conferences is to deepen security cooperation at regional and international levels and added that the MSC organizers’ failure to invite certain countries should be considered as a selective move which is based on political motives.
He said the move is a continuation of the wrong attitudes in dealing with recent developments in Iran, adding that that the behavior is against the principle of impartiality touted by organizers of events like the MSC.
On a potential prisoner swap between Iran and the United States, Kanaani reiterated that Iran is ready to exchange prisoners without any precondition and regardless of other issues that exist between the two countries.
He said Tehran showed its good faith in this regard by releasing a dual Iranian-US national a few months ago, adding that the US has yet to reciprocate.
Touching upon setting up economic and trade missions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in other countries, he underlined that the current government in Iran attaches great importance to the expansion of trade and economic ties with different states around the world.
The spokesman further referred to talks between Iraqi and Iranian foreign ministers on the issue of international negotiations to revive the 2015 deal on Iran’s nuclear program, known as the JCPOA, and said some governments have played a role in this regard and some others have shown readiness to help the process reach a conclusion.
He said if the Iraqi government wants to play a role in this regard, Iran will consider it seriously.
On the JCPOA revival talks, Kanaani said that the Islamic Republic has time and again announced its official policy on the issue, adding that other parties to the deal, in particular the US, should take practical steps and show good faith in efforts to return to the deal.
On France’s recent statement about the need to take international action against Iran’s missile program, Kanaani emphasized that Tehran would not buy into such blame games, adding that such positions would not help resolve differences between Iran and European parties to the JCPOA.
He said that the Islamic Republic views its missile activities as a legitimate part of its defense program based on international laws and regulations.
On the Supreme Leader’s recent decision to pardon tens of thousands of prisoners, including some foreigners, the spokesman insisted that those jailed in Iran are behind bars because of violating the country’s domestic laws, adding that the Supreme Leader has the authority and jurisdiction to make decisions on the issue.
On the joint military drills by the United States and the Zionist regime in the region, the spokesman stressed that the Islamic Republic will react to any threat and that the regime has received the Iranians’ firm reactions on several occasions, he said, adding that since the US is the ally and supporter of the Zionist regime, the Americans are held accountable for any anti-Iran moves by the regime.
The Zionists should think about the unrest and protests over the last six weeks; moreover, the regime should try to stand against freedom-seeking efforts by the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, so the regime is incapable of carrying out any military aggression against Iran, the diplomat argued.
Kanaani offered Iran’s condolences and sympathy to the quake-hit people and the government in Turkiye and Syria, noting that Syria is still suffering from the cruel sanctions imposed by the US and some of its European allies, calling for lifting the inhumane embargo in order to pave the way for sending humanitarian aids to the people in Syria.
As to the cancelation of Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX), he said that the Europeans’ refusal to abide by their commitments and make amend the illegal and unilateral withdrawal of the Trump administration from the JCPOA in May 2018 led to the current situation in the implementation of the INSTEX.
Pointing to Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein’s comment on talks between the Saudi and Iranian delegations in Baghdad, the spokesman said that the Islamic Republic underlines the need for diplomacy to return the ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran back on track, so Tehran welcomes any mediation by the Iraqi government and hopes that the efforts would improve relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
On the relationship between Egypt and Iran, he said that the last talks between officials of the two countries took place on the sidelines of the Baghdad II Conference in Amman, Jordan, on December 20, 2022, between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and that the Islamic Republic embraces expansion of ties with other countries, especially regional ones.
Asked about the ongoing protests in France, he said that unfortunately, certain statesmen pay heed to Iran and its developments more than what is going on in their own countries.
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