Rouhani:

Iran Seeking Peaceful Ties with Neighboring States

Rasa - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underlined that his country is looking for peaceful relations with its neighboring countries, including the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) member states.

News ID: 426614

Date: 17 January 2017 - 21:11

RNA - "The Islamic Republic of Iran has spared no efforts to expand close cooperation with neighboring states, Islamic states as well as PGCC," President Rouhani said on Tuesday, addressing a press conference attended by foreign journalists.

He pointed to the differences between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and said, "Riyadh initiated the problem by invading a neighboring state."

The Iranian president said that it will be in the interest of Saudi Arabia to halt invasion of Yemen and avoid intervention in Bahrain and prevent terrorists from taking advantage of the country.

"We have no problems, but in fact their military invasion of Yemen and interference in Bahrain's affairs are the root causes of our problems," President Rouhani said.

In relevant remarks in late December, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi underlined the necessity for Saudi Arabia to halt the military attacks against Yemen, and said Tehran supports talks among Yemeni groups on the settlement of crisis in the war-torn country.

He stressed that Iran has clear stances on Yemen, and said, "We think that foreign interference and aggression has turned the situation in Yemen into its complicated form and situation today."

Saudi Arabia has been striking Yemen since March 2015 to restore power to fugitive president Mansour Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh. The Saudi-led aggression has so far killed at least 12,800 Yemenis, including hundreds of women and children.

Despite Riyadh's claims that it is bombing the positions of the Ansarullah fighters, Saudi bombers are flattening residential areas and civilian infrastructures.

According to several reports, the Saudi-led air campaign against Yemen has drove the impoverished country towards humanitarian disaster.

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