Iran VP urges genuine campaign against extremism

Iran’s First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri says the lack of genuine international fight against extremism will be highly detrimental to all countries across the world.

“We are witnessing the expansion of violent extremism and killing of defenseless people in the region these days, a trend which has unfortunately become further complicated due to the interference of extra-regional countries,” Jahangiri said in Ashgabat on Saturday during a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the day the United Nations officially recognized Turkmenistan's "permanent neutrality." 

He added that extremist groups are committing inhumane, non-Islamic and the most heinous crimes in the name of justice and Islam.

He said Iran’s foreign policy has always been based on promotion of relations with neighboring and regional countries and expressed Tehran’s keenness to bolster ties with Ashgabat in all fields, particularly in the reinforcement of peace and stability.

“We regard security of [our] neighbors as our own security,” Jahangiri added.

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on December 12, 1995, which “recognizes and supports the declared status of permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan” and expresses hope that "the status of permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan will contribute to peace and security in the region."

The resolution has also called on the UN to respect and maintain the neutrality of Turkmenistan.

Lifting of anti-Iran sanctions

The Iranian official further added that the Islamic Republic managed to solve the Western dispute over the country’s nuclear program through “wisdom, prudence and logic-based interaction” with the international community and noted that sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program would be lifted soon under the agreement.

“The lifting of these wrongful sanctions will remove obstacles in the way of the Islamic Republic’s more active interaction with the international community and will prepare an appropriate ground for better regional interaction, including Iran’s cooperation with [its] neighbors,” Jahangiri pointed out.

Iran and the P5+1 group of countries – the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany – managed to finalize the text of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in the Austrian capital, Vienna, on July 14.

Under the JCPOA, limits are put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, the removal of all nuclear-related economic and financial bans against the Islamic Republic.

Confronting Daesh patrons

Meanwhile, in a meeting with Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic in Ashgabat on Saturday, Jahangiri highlighted the need to confront the supporters of terrorist groups.

“It is necessary to counter those who are providing Daesh [terrorist group] with ideological, financial and arms support,” the Iranian vice president said.

He added that efforts should be directed at finding the root causes of the formation of terrorist groups such as Daesh.

Jahangiri expressed Iran’s readiness to offer all necessary assistance with the purpose of solving regional crises.

He called for a political solution to the ongoing crises in the region, particularly the Syrian and Yemeni conflicts, and said Croatia can play a leading role in this regard.

The Croatian president, for his part, said Zagreb is keen to strengthen cooperation with Tehran on a variety of issues including energy, tourism, shipping industry and transportation. He also called on the Iranian private sector to enhance its presence in Croatia’s economy.

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