Iran Warns PGCC to Avoid Baseless Allegations

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast strongly dismissed the recent claims raised by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) against Iran as an unwelcomed interference in Iran’s domestic affairs.

In a final statement issued at the end of the PGCC’s 126th ministerial council meeting in Riyadh on Sunday, the six Persian Gulf monarchies condemned the recent visit of a number of Iranian lawmakers to the three Iranian islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf.

In reply, Mehman-Parast strongly rejected the accusations, and described the PGCC statement “as an improper meddling in Iran’s internal affairs”.

“Raising baseless claims cannot change the existing realities and the regional nations had better put on their agenda positive and constructive approaches towards the Islamic Republic of Iran instead of leveling baseless accusations, as this will be in the interest of the regional nations,” he said.

International documents clearly show that the three islands of the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa which were historically owned by Iran, temporarily fell to British control in 1903. The islands were returned to Iran based on an agreement in 1971 before the UAE was born.

Iran has repeatedly declared that its ownership of the three islands is unquestionable.

Under international law, no state can defy any agreement, which came into being before its establishment.

Yet, the UAE continues to make territorial claims against the Islamic Republic despite historical evidence and international regulations.

Mehman-Parast further noted another allegation made by the PGCC states in their Riyadh meeting about the recent nuclear talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 nations in Almaty, Kazakhstan, stressed that the Arab ministers’ claim about “lack of progress” during the Almaty talks signifies their lack of knowledge about the latest developments.

The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman called on the PGCC members to express their stances with more care and only after gaining proper information and a correct understanding of issues and developments.

Iran and six world powers last week agreed on further meetings after two days of talks in Kazakhstan, the first since negotiations broke down in June, 2012.

Following the meeting, both the chief negotiators of Iran and the G5+1 described their talks as a “turning point”. While both Iran’s lead negotiator Saeed Jalili and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton – who leads the delegations of the world powers in talks with Iran – said they now have a positive outlook about future talks, Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi told the Austrian TV that a deal is possible now.

Salehi also on Sunday said that Tehran is now waiting to see gradual removal of the western sanctions.