We won't let certain countries change current in region - Iranian FM

IRI Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi called for finding peaceful settlement for regional crises and said Iran won't let certain countries with military and financial might change current in the region, IRNA reported.

In an exclusive interview with IRNA on Friday, Salehi answered a question concerning displeasure of the West, especially France, with Iran's participation in settling Syrian crisis and his meeting with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in Cairo and immediate visit of French foreign minister with Egyptian President.

Salehi said the West has been trying for a long time to show Iran as an isolated country before the world public opinion, but Iran is a powerful and influencial country in the region.

Salehi stated that France has made comments, which return to themselves, but they will confess, sooner or later, to Iran's influence and its protest indicate that it is beginning to confess to Iran's importance.

On differences between Iran, Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia about continuation of Assad government in Syria and finding a peaceful settlement for Syrian crisis, which can be acceptable for Syrian government and countries of the region, Salehi said Iran has declared many times that Syrian crisis could not be settled by one or two meetings, but it needs many sessions and consultations.

The foreign minister said Cairo meeting was aimed to understand opinions of each other and a solution can certainly be found with more meetings and consultations among regional countries and consultations with Syrian government as well.

'We have to act in the same direction as others move in this concern, like measures being done by the UN Special Envoy in Syrian Affairs Lakhdar Brahimi and all activities should be coordinated,' said the foreign minister.

Salehi noted that in Cairo meeting, it was underlined that separate acts would not be a solution, but there must be a real coordination; for instance, Iraq Premier Nuri al-Maleki proposed creation of a contact group and Non-Aligned Movement member states have asked its chairmanship (Iran) to find a solution to Syrian crisis with consultations and coordination with other members.

On a question if there are any new plans to settle Syrian crisis, Salehi said President Morsi act to create quartette contact group, possible plans by Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN special envoy in Syria affairs, proposal of Mr. Nuri al-Maleki to create a contact group as well as request of many members states of NAM from its chairmanship to consult for finding a solution to Syrian crisis are among measures which will start soon.

Concerning different stances of Iran with a number of countries on continuation of President Assad government in Syria and that how much Iran is able to justify this stance, Salehi said that Iran is trying to make those countries understand that time for determining new regimes for other countries has passed.

He added that Iran is trying to prevent emergence of new and incorrect approaches outside international conventions and regulations.

'We do not allow countries with military and financial might to create change of current and impose their own intentions.'

Answering a question concerning his negotiation with Egyptian officials about Tehran-Cairo ties and Iran's readiness to promote relations level, Salehi said that he discussed elaborately on bilateral issues with Egyptian officials.

'I should say that I am very optimistic about future of the ties,' said Salehi.

Concerning closure of Canadian embassy in Tehran and its reasons, the foreign minister said that Canadian act was unexamined and meaningless, even Canadian elites protested their government and wrote many articles in Canadian papers.

'Among the reasons they presented was why Iran is helping Syria. There are many other countries which are helping Syria, so Canada should sever ties with them, too.'

'There are powerful countries in the UN Security Council with right of veto which are defending Syrian government,' said Salehi.

He continued that their logic was baseless, weak and foundless and it seems that they have done it under pressure.

'We do not want to suggest any hypothesis, but as it seems, it was under pressures by international Zionism and the Zionist regime.'

'Current government of Canada, that is neo-conservative, has strong ties with Zionism,' Salehi argued.

The Iranian senior diplomat stressed that, of course, we want good relations with Canada and we believe so, because the country has very nice people and they accept immigrants and there are around 500,000 Iranians who are living there in good conditions.

He added, 'We appreciate Canadian nation for their nice behavior with Iranians living there.'

Salehi reminded that Canadian government, on behalf of the Zionist regime, had tried to persuade countries not to participate in Tehran NAM summit; they had even asked the UN secretary general not to travel to Iran.

At conclusion, Salehi recommended Canadian government to act more logically in the field of foreign policy.