Iran ready for FTA talks with PGCC
Press TV
Iran ready for FTA talks with PGCC
Mon, 03 Sep 2007
Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman says Tehran is ready to hold talks with the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council on a free trade pact.
Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini described a free trade deal between Iran and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) as an important step towards regional cooperation and expressed Iran’s readiness to hold talks on the issue, according to a report published by the Foreign Ministry on Monday.
Hosseini also referred to the council’s call for a peaceful resolution to the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, saying, "In light of Iran’s cooperation with the International Nuclear Energy Agency and the agreements that have been reached, we expect regional countries to adopt a more transparent stance and support the process."
Hosseini also slammed a statement issued by the PGCC on the issue of the three Iranian islands of Greater and Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa. He rejected PGCC’s ’baseless claims’ about the Iranian islands and deplored the PGCC’s stance on the issue. He reiterated that the three islands would remain an inseparable part of Iran’s territory.
Finally, the Spokesman said Iran’s policy is to expand relations with neighboring Persian Gulf countries based on neighborly relations, mutual respect and not interfering in other countries’ internal affairs.
