Iran Officials Will Keep Visiting PG Islands : Mehmanparast

Tehran, May 1, IRNA – Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that the issue of the three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf is closely linked to Iran’s territorial integrity, stressing that officials will keep visiting the islands in future as well. Talking to reporters during his Tuesday morning press briefing, he made the remarks in response to the claims of the UAE officials regarding President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s recent visit to Abu Mussa island in the Persian Gulf. He said the three islands issue is part of Iran’s national sovereignty, adding that the visit of President Ahmadinejad to Abu Mussa island took place within the framework of his routine provincial visits. Mehmanparast stressed that Iran will not tolerate any kind of bold claims or irrelevant remarks regarding its three islands. He further commented on the upcoming negotiations with 5+1 to be held in Baghdad on May 23 and said that Iran’s negotiating team has always entered the talks with absolute goodwill so it expects the other side to display the same spirit and attitude. Noting that Iran’s partners showed an attitude of cooperation in recent negotiations in Istanbul, the FM spokesman hoped the same atmosphere would also prevail the Baghdad talks to gain a favorable result./end