Iran, PGCC states enjoy good ties: Shamkhani

Abadan, Khuzestan Prov, Dec 14, IRNA - Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said Iran has good cooperation with member states of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council. Talking to IRNA during his tour of Iran's Persian Gulf cities of Abadan and Khorramshahr, he commented on improvement of ties between Tehran and the region's Arab countries. Iran, he said, supports settlement of the most difficult issues of the Arab World, for example, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Gaza. 'Some Arab states are acting beyond the regional equations, and we hope that the trend will be recitified,' he cautioned explaining that the term 'Arab state' doe not mean Saudi Arabia exclusively. On the plummeting oil prices, Shamkhani said that it was a manufactured and political plot. 'The reduction in crude oil prices is not an economic issue, rather a political plot and planning by certain countries,' he suggested. Also on the expatriation agreement between Tehran and Islamabad, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council said the agreement to exchange terrorists and thugs is being pursued. Its enforcement will provide security along the Iran-Pakistan border, he added./end