Foreign plot to ignite civil war, divide Iran failed: Iranian FM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Nov 2022 16:41

The Iranian Foreign Minister touches on the files of Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, and the nuclear talks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian pointed out on Wednesday that a foreign conspiracy to instigate a civil war and divide Iran has failed.

During a press conference, Amir-Abdollahian indicated that there are documents that prove enemies sought to ignite a civil and terrorist war with the final goal of dividing Iran.

The top Iranian diplomat said that Western countries fomented riots in Iran by deceiving a group of youths while also arming terrorists in the neighboring Iraqi Kurdistan region.

The Iranian Foreign Minister indicated that in the past eight weeks, a massive increase in foreign interference in Iran's affairs was witnessed, highlighting that 76 terrorist and anti-Iranian centers in the Iraqi Kurdistan region became active, as US and Israeli weapons were smuggled into Iran.

Regarding the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) strikes on terrorist groups in Iraqi Kurdistan, Amir-Abdollahian said that "Our friends in Iraq made a commitment to sweep those terrorist groups away (from Iran’s border) and disarm them in a definite span of time," affirming that the military strikes will continue as long as a threat is posed against Iran.

Amir-Abdollahian stressed that "As long as there is a threat to us from a neighboring country within the framework of international law and the UN Charter, our armed forces will continue their actions to ensure the maximum national security of the country."

"We in the diplomatic and security apparatus of the country will continue the talks with the Iraqi authorities to get over this stage," he added.

Ukraine did not provide evidence that Iranian drones were used in war

The Iranian Minister considered that with its negative human rights record, the West is in no position to talk about Iran's human rights situation.

"The fact that more than 50 policemen and our security forces were martyred by rioters with firearms and rocks, and several thousand policemen and our security defenders were injured, is a sign of respect for human rights and showing restraint by Iran's police and security forces [during the riots]," he indicated.

Amir-Abdollahian said that the recent riots and newly-imposed sanctions were aimed at pressuring Iran to give up its demands at the nuclear talks, adding that the Americans must have realized by now that Iran does not cross its red lines.

Regarding accusations about Iran's alleged military assistance to Russia in the Ukraine war, Amir-Abdollahian clarified that Tehran provided Moscow with a few drones 11 months before the start of the war, noting that Ukraine has not provided evidence that the Iranian drones were used by Russia in the war.

Exchange of messages between Iran, US in diplomatic course in progress

In a separate context, the Iranian Foreign Minister reiterated Iran's readiness wants to resume nuclear talks to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and remove imposed sanctions in order to maximize the Iranian nation's interests with might.

Amir-Abdollahian said that "we disagree with the American side on three issues," adding that top EU diplomats Josep Borrell and Enrique Mora "are trying to find a solution in this field."

"One of these issues is solving the remaining issues with the nuclear agency, and the other issue is related to economic guarantees, and we tried to formulate this issue," he explained.

The Iranian Foreign Minister pointed out that "The third thing is that in line with the economic guarantee, the game played by the western parties and the extension of sanctions to third parties is the reason for the continuation of the sanctions, with an agreed mechanism, they should be eliminated."

He stressed that the final text to reach a deal must be stronger and include those three issues, noting that "The exchange of messages between Iran and the US in the diplomatic course is in progress."

"I hope that we would talk about a strong and durable agreement with a realistic view once we reach the final step of a deal."

Any military presence by any foreign party in Syria would complicate situation

Commenting on the recent tensions and the exchange of shelling between Turkish forces and Kurdish militants on the Syrian-Turkish border, Amir-Abdollahian considered that any military presence by any foreign party in Syria is non-constructive and would complicate the situation there.

He expressed hope that Turkey will leave the task of securing its borders with Syria to the Syrian forces, saying that Tehran understands Ankara's security concerns regarding its borders.

The Iranian minister also revealed that "Security talks have been held between Turkish and Syrian authorities."