ID :
185582
Tue, 05/31/2011 - 13:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/185582
The shortlink copeid
Iranian FM Dismisses Media Reports on Saudi Visit
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi rejected media speculations that he plans to visit Riyadh amid the Iranian government and nation's protests at the crimes committed by the Saudi forces against the defenseless Bahraini people.
"I have no plans to visit Saudi Arabia at present," Salehi told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with Armenian officials to ink a number of economic cooperation agreements here in Tehran.
He expressed surprise at the media hype over his probable trip to Saudi Arabia, and said, "Issues grow formal when they are officially announced by the Foreign Ministry and we make relevant official announcements prior to all our visits" to declare the destination and the goals of our trips.
Yesterday, a senior Iranian lawmaker reminded Riyadh's collaboration with the Al-Khalifa regime on the suppression of the Bahraini people, and underlined that Iran should attend talks with Saudi Arabia only after the latter withdraws its forces from Bahrain.
"Withdrawal from Bahrain should be set as a precondition for negotiations with the Saudi officials," Member of the parliament's Majority Fraction Seyed Ali Moussavi Jaraf told FNA on Monday.
He also urged the Iranian government to impose economic sanctions against Saudi officials, and said, "We expect the government to pressure the (Saudi)regime to end its plots and intrigues in the region."
Anti-government protesters have been holding peaceful demonstrations across Bahrain since mid-February, calling for an end to the Al Khalifa dynasty's over-40-year rule.
Violence against the defenseless people escalated after a Saudi-led conglomerate of police, security and military forces from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) member states - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar - were dispatched to the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom on March 13 to help Manama crack down on peaceful protestors.
So far, tens of people have been killed, hundreds have gone missing and more than 1,000 others have been injured.
Yet, protests and rallies continued throughout the country in defiance of the martial law put in place by Manama since February.
Bahrainis have repeatedly condemned Riyadh's major role in the suppression of their revolution, and underlined that they would continue protests until the Al Khalifa regime collapses.
"I have no plans to visit Saudi Arabia at present," Salehi told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with Armenian officials to ink a number of economic cooperation agreements here in Tehran.
He expressed surprise at the media hype over his probable trip to Saudi Arabia, and said, "Issues grow formal when they are officially announced by the Foreign Ministry and we make relevant official announcements prior to all our visits" to declare the destination and the goals of our trips.
Yesterday, a senior Iranian lawmaker reminded Riyadh's collaboration with the Al-Khalifa regime on the suppression of the Bahraini people, and underlined that Iran should attend talks with Saudi Arabia only after the latter withdraws its forces from Bahrain.
"Withdrawal from Bahrain should be set as a precondition for negotiations with the Saudi officials," Member of the parliament's Majority Fraction Seyed Ali Moussavi Jaraf told FNA on Monday.
He also urged the Iranian government to impose economic sanctions against Saudi officials, and said, "We expect the government to pressure the (Saudi)regime to end its plots and intrigues in the region."
Anti-government protesters have been holding peaceful demonstrations across Bahrain since mid-February, calling for an end to the Al Khalifa dynasty's over-40-year rule.
Violence against the defenseless people escalated after a Saudi-led conglomerate of police, security and military forces from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) member states - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar - were dispatched to the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom on March 13 to help Manama crack down on peaceful protestors.
So far, tens of people have been killed, hundreds have gone missing and more than 1,000 others have been injured.
Yet, protests and rallies continued throughout the country in defiance of the martial law put in place by Manama since February.
Bahrainis have repeatedly condemned Riyadh's major role in the suppression of their revolution, and underlined that they would continue protests until the Al Khalifa regime collapses.
