Khatami: Strengthening relations with Arab states at top of Iran agenda

Iranian President Muhammad Khatami has asserted his country's desire to strengthen political and economic relations with the Arab states.

In statements to Orient Radio on Wednesday on the sidelines of his participation in the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Durban, South Africa, Khatami added that consolidating these relations falls at the top of Iran's foreign policy agenda. Khatami asserted Tehran's wish to strengthen security and stability through firm and true cooperation among the region's states in the Gulf. He categorically denied that his country has geographical and political ambitions in the Arab Gulf states.

He said the coming days will yield fruitful efforts in fostering relations between his country and the Arab Gulf states. He expressed satisfaction over the positive response shown by the Gulf states with efforts exerted in this field. President Khatami strongly criticized the oppressive practices of the Israeli occupation authorities inside the Palestinian and Arab territories and its violation of the Islamic shrines in the Arab territories.

President Khatami asserted that the Israeli authorities exploit the peace process and the signed agreements to cover up policies aimed at imposing political, geographical and demographic conditions on the Palestinian people and against the Islamic shrines.

He also asserted the categorical rejection by all Islamic states of all threats on Islamic shrines in the occupied lands. The Iranian president strongly criticized the silence of the international community towards the Israeli policies.