Iran slams US support for pliant regimes

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has lashed out at the West, particularly the United States, for providing support for pliable regimes in the region.

In a Wednesday meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd in the Kazakh capital, Astana, Salehi outlined Iran’s stance on the latest developments in the region. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the second day of the 38th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Salehi pointed to Iran’s role in establishing peace and stability in the region and said Tehran is making all its efforts to strengthen security and improve the welfare of regional nations, particularly for the Afghan and Iraqi people.

The senior Iranian official also stressed the importance of meeting popular demands in the Middle East and North Africa.

In recent months, a wave of revolutions and anti-government uprisings has swept across the Arab world.

In January, a revolution in Tunisia ended the 23-year rule of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

In February, another revolution led to the ouster of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak after three decades of authoritarian rule. Both dictators were firmly backed by the US and most other Western ‘democracies.’

Revolutions have also begun in Libya, Yemen, and Bahrain, while anti-government demonstrations have been held in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, and Algeria.

The Australian minister, for his part, hailed Iran’s position and role in the Middle East and called for bolstering cooperation with Tehran.

The Iranian foreign minister also exchanged views with Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir on ways to expand mutual relations in various political, economic and cultural fields.

Salehi held another meeting with OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and discussed prospects of future cooperation between Iran and the organization.