Iran official:

Petrodollars turning Middle East into West's arms depot

Rasa - A senior Iranian official has lashed out at certain countries for using petrodollars to turn the Middle East into a depository for Western weapons.

News ID: 429833

Date: 23 May 2017 - 22:21

RNA - Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in the Russian capital Moscow on Tuesday, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Securit y Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said the world needs to distance itself from violent and extremist ideologies and measures but some countries, with their dark background of supporting terrorism, are using oil revenues of the Middle East to turn the region into a warehouse of Western weapons.

These countries are spreading insecurity and violence across the region, he added.

He said countries that play key roles in international security must further continue with their close consultations and cooperation with the purpose of reducing security crises within the framework of establishing international peace and stability.

The senior Iranian official emphasized that the security of countries and nations depends on the extent of participation in the determination of political systems and structures.

Therefore, the Islamic Republic believes that stockpiling weapons would never enhance security, Shamkhani said.

The SNSN secretary is on a visit to Moscow to attend a three-day meeting of senior security officials from more than 100 countries and hold talks with Russian officials.

During his address to the meeting, Shamkhani plans to outline the latest security, political and economic situation in the Middle East and declare Iran's approaches to fight against terrorism.

Iran and Russia have become increasingly allied in Syria and helped the war-stricken country gain more ground in recent months, particularly during the Syrian army’s major offensive last year to fully retake the northern city of Aleppo from Daesh Takfiri terrorists.

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