Leader’s Aide: Iran Respects Sovereignty of All Countries

(FNA)- Supreme Leader's top adviser for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati underlined Iran's recognition of and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all nations as well as its steadfast opposition to intervention in other country's internal affairs.

Velayati made the remarks in a statement on Monday.

He underlined the Islamic Republic of Iran's respect for the territorial integrity of all countries as well as Tehran's principled policy and continued move for strengthening unity and campaign against extremism and terrorism.

"Foreign policy in the Islamic Revolution's view is not ethnical and tribal, and is not meant to promote nationalistic thoughts, and geography; territorial borders don’t have any room in the Islamic Revolution's thought," Velayati said.

Stressing that the Islamic Revolution doesn’t prefer any race and tribe to others, he said, "The Islamic Revolution recognizes the entire Muslim world as a body named the Islamic Ummah."

Velayati underscored that the Islamic Revolution is opposed to interference in other countries' domestic affairs and recognizes the territorial integrity of all states, specially the brotherly and friendly ones.

In relevant remarks in January, Iranian First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri in a meeting with Iraqi Health Minister Adilla Hamoud Hussein in Tehran said continued support for the legal government of Iraq and its territorial integrity stands atop Tehran's foreign policy agenda.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has and will always support the territorial integrity and promotion of democracy in Iraq according to the mechanisms enshrined in Iraq's constitution," Jahangiri said during the meeting.

"Given my familiarity with the Iraqi people, elites and religious authorities, I am assured that they will leave behind the existing problems and also overcome future challenges," he added.

The Iraqi health minister, for her part, said the ISIL could not have penetrated into Iraq if there had not been the financial and logistical back-ups of certain countries, and added, "The ISIL is looking for creating a rift among Iraqi political parties, but Iraq's incumbent government is trying to forge unity among all political groups and parties."

Also in December, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in a meeting with Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi in Tehran underlined that Tehran would continue helping Baghdad in its fight against Takfiri terrorists.

"Iraq is facing the ISIL problem and the Islamic Republic of Iran considers it as a duty to help its Iraqi brothers and it has remained beside the Iraqi government and nation and will continue doing so in future," Larijani said during the meeting.

The Iranian parliament speaker voiced his pleasure in the consolidation of the national unity government in Iraq, and said, "Unity and empathy among all Iraqi tribes and groups will result in overcoming problems and moving towards development."

Larijani reiterated that terrorism has been plotted by the big powers to strike a blow at the trend of development and democracy in Syria and Iraq.

He reiterated that Iran would continue its support for the Iraqi government and people in the campaign against terrorism.