“Washington and its Western allies are pursuing their unilateral and authoritarian policies in all strategic regions of the world and the situation in Ukraine is the result of such a vision,” the Iranian Defense Minister said.
Brigadier General Ashtiani, meantime, said the US occupied Afghanistan for 20 years and left the country hastily, causing chaos there.
“There is no doubt that the only way out of the current crisis in Afghanistan is the formation of an inclusive government in which all ethnic and religious groups have representatives,” he added.
In a relevant development earlier this week, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian landed in Moscow for talks with Russian officials to help resolve Ukraine crisis which has entered its seventh months.
Amir Abdollahian arrived in Moscow on Wednesday morning at the head of a delegation for talks with Russian officials to help put an end to the months-long conflict in Ukraine. Tehran’s Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali welcomed the foreign minister and the Iranian entourage.
“The main purpose of the trip to Moscow is to try to resolve the Ukraine crisis based on a request made to the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Amir Abdollahian said on Tuesday, when he left Tehran for Moscow at the head of a high-ranking political delegation.
“Some Western parties want Tehran to play an active role in this regard,” he added.
The top Iranian diplomat also stated following up on Tehran-Moscow ties as well as the issue of Afghanistan were on the agenda of the visit.
During his stay, Iranian foreign minister will meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Iran describes diplomacy as the sole way out of the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, and stressed the country is ready to assist finding an end to the conflict.
Iranian officials have repeatedly reiterated their opposition to war between the two countries, and stressed the country’s independent position on the conflicts. Tehran has also announced it is prepared to dispatch medical teams to Ukraine to help the war-stricken country treat the injured and patients.
Back in July, Amir Abdollahian noted Iran continues its efforts to mediate between the two warring sides, and stressed Tehran’s principled stance of rejecting wars and sanctions.
“The Islamic Republic urges focus on a political solution to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, and in this regard, continues the efforts and consultations between Moscow and Kiev to strengthen and advance the political solution to speed up the resolution of this crisis,” he stated.
The top Iranian diplomat also said Tehran helps ensure energy security and food security across the world following the war in Ukraine, adding, “We have had discussions with Russian and Ukrainian authorities in this regard.”
In Late February, President Vladimir Putin stated in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation. The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories.
The US, the EU, the UK and a number of other states have imposed sanctions against Russian legal entities and individuals. They also increased supplies of weapons to the Ukrainian authorities. Russia has officially become the most sanctioned country in the world, surpassing Iran, Syria and North Korea, after launching a military operation against Ukraine.
In early March, Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi announced Tehran’s preparedness to help diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran supports any effort that would lead to peaceful settlement of the [ongoing] conflict in Ukraine and is ready to play a role to help restore peace in any possible manner,” Rayeesi said.
“Based on the fundamental principles of its foreign policy, the Islamic Republic of Iran opposes both hegemony and submission to hegemony, and gives its backing to the right to all nations to self-determination,” he added.
Rayeesi underlined the need to protect territorial integrity and the national sovereignty of all countries, and stated, “The Islamic Republic of Iran understands security concerns arising from several decades of NATO’s expansionism.”
“We strongly believe that diplomacy and sincere adherence to international obligations by all parties provide the sole lasting and just way out of the current situation,” Rayeesi continued.
The Iranian president also stressed that all parties to the Ukraine conflict must be serious about protecting the lives and property of citizens and civilians and observing the principles of international and humanitarian law.
