[caption id="attachment_92908" align="alignright" width="201"] Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian[/caption]
Tehran, May 8, IRNA – Iran supports establishment of democracy in Iraq and Syria, Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Thursday.
According to the Foreign Ministry website, Amir Abdollahian while speaking to an Arab news outlet, called Iraq?s recent parliamentary elections a success.
He noted that high turn out in Iraq?s elections which was the first election after the withdrawal of US forces was a great achievement for the Iraqi nation and government.
The elections was the Iraqi nation?s ?No? to terrorism and foreign interference and a step forward to establishment of peace and democracy in the region, the official noted.
Rejecting Tehran?s interference in Iraq, he stressed that Iran enjoys spiritual influence in the whole region, including Iraq, adding that such an influence is rooted in the historical, cultural, religious and geographical commonalities shared by the two nations.
Tehran will continue its strategic relations with Baghdad, he said, adding that Iran-Iraq bilateral cooperation benefits the entire region, particulalry the two nations.
As to the upcoming Syrian presidential elections, he underlined that Iran recognizes Bashar al-Assad as the legitimate president of Syria till holding of the presidential elections there.
He called on all regional and international players involved in the Syrian crisis to help resolve the crisis, noting that international observers can help monitor the election process in that country.
He underlined the need for settlement of the Syrian crisis through diplomacy.
By IRNA
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