Iranian MFA remarks on Palestine, Red Sea base, and disputed gas field

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 Mar 2024 17:06

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, says the Organization of Islamic Cooperation will be put to the test tomorrow regarding its commitment to support occupied Palestine.

In this photo released on Aug. 11, 2022, by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani speaks in Tehran, Iran. (AP)

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokesperson Nasser Kanaani, denied the claim by Wall Street Journal that Iran has approached Sudan for permission to build a base on the Red Sea, considering it "an unfounded claim."

Kanaani said at his weekly press conference on Monday, "The Sudanese Foreign Minister has denied it, and this is a politically motivated claim."

Ali al-Sadiq Ali, the Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, had said, "I have read the article published in the American daily newspaper The Wall Street Journal. The news story is false and fabricated," adding that Iran has "never asked Sudan to establish a base there. I paid a visit to Iran lately, and the issue was never raised during my stay."

On Iranian elections

On another note, Kanaani pointed out that the Islamic Republic of Iran has conducted forty successful elections since the revolution, which is unique in West Asia.

The spokesperson also noted that the elections for the Shura Council and the Assembly of Experts were held in a safe, healthy, and vibrant atmosphere, with the participation of Iranians across the country, despite the efforts of enemies to dampen electoral enthusiasm.

On occupied Palestine

Moreover, Kanaani also commented on the second meeting of Foreign Ministers of Islamic countries regarding occupied Palestine, which is being held tomorrow at the headquarters of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, considering that both meetings are the result of diplomatic efforts exerted by Iran as well as some other countries.

The spokesperson believed that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation would be put to the test tomorrow to demonstrate the extent of its use of its power to support Palestine, amid the continuation of the harsh war and the hostile actions of the Israeli occupation's government and the US' unlimited support for "Israel".

On the disputed Arash/al-Dorra gas field

Regarding the statement of the Gulf Cooperation Council's foreign ministers meeting regarding the Arash/al-Dorra gas field, which is being disputed between Kuwait and Iran, Kanaani said that Iran announced its position based on legal rules in this regard, stressing that making baseless claims confer any rights upon the claimant.

The spokesperson also emphasized constructive cooperation based on bilateral negotiations with the Kuwaiti government and the continuation of legal and technical negotiations as part of the ongoing talks.

He added that Iran's view on relations with its neighbors is based on creating a positive atmosphere and resolving disputes, stressing that presenting these issues in the media is not useful.

It is also worth noting that the final statement of the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which was held yesterday in Riyadh, claimed, "that the entire field is located in the maritime areas of the State of Kuwait, and that the natural resources in the submerged area are joint property between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait only, rejecting the existence of rights for any other party in the field and the submerged area."

Earlier, Kanaani had confirmed on January 31, 2024, that his country was ready to resume negotiations with Kuwait regarding the Arash/al-Dorra gas field and the demarcation of the maritime borders between the two countries, in response to the joint Saudi-Kuwaiti statement following the visit of the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, to Riyadh, affirming Iran's adoption of a good neighborliness policy.