Iran emphasizes close ties with Latin America

Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki denounces interfering remarks by the US about Tehran’s close ties with Latin American states.

Mottaki said remarks by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Iran’s bilateral relations with Latin American nations were in complete contradiction with diplomatic principles and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961).

“We condemn such attitudes which violate values of the third millennium,” Mottaki said.

He added that no country has the right to use force to prevent countries from expanding relations based on respect and mutual interests.

Mottaki’s comments came after the US secretary of state on Friday warned Latin American nations, Bolivia and Venezuela in particular, about the consequences of close ties with Iran, saying “we can only say that is a really bad idea for the countries involved.”

Clinton went on to warn that “if people want to flirt with Iran, they should take a look at what the consequences might well be for them. And we hope that they will think twice.”

However, the Iranian foreign minister expressed support for improving relations between Tehran and Latin American countries.

“Establishment of amicable relations between countries is a basic principle of the United Nation’s Charter,” he said.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad went on several official trips to Latin American countries, including Brazil, Bolivia and Venezuela in November.

During his visits, Ahmadinejad signed a number of agreements with Latin American leaders to launch joint projects.