Iran supports Tunisia’s stability, unity

Iran has congratulated Tunisia on its recent successful parliamentary elections, expressing support for the African country’s stability and unity.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has been supporting stability, peace, unity, territorial integrity and independence of Tunisia and other countries in the [North African] region and will continue to do so,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said on Tuesday.

She hailed wisdom of the Tunisian nation and political parties for their active participation in the country’s elections.

Afkham expressed hope that the new parliament in Tunisia would prepare the ground for the formation of a permanent government in the country.

She once again reiterated Iran’s stance on the importance of determination of regional countries’ fate by their own nations and without any foreign interference.

Her remarks came after Tunisia’s secular party Nidaa Tounes said on Monday that it is in the lead in the country’s elections for its 217-member parliament.

According to a Nidaa Tounes source, a preliminary count shows that the party has won more than 80 seats against 67 seats for the ruling al-Nahda party in the vote, which was held on Sunday.

The organizers of the elections have not announced the official results yet, but both Tounes and the ruling al-Nahda party have said their estimates show that they finished first and second respectively.