FM: Iran supports any political effort to resolve Ukraine crisis

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has expressed Iran’s support for any political effort aimed at putting an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on Monday, during which the two conferred on the latest developments as Russia’s military operation in the former Soviet state undergoes its third week.

The two sides stressed the need for protection of diplomatic facilities during the ongoing conflict and delivery of humanitarian aid.

Amir-Abdollahian expounded on Iran’s stance and its opposition to any kind of war across the world, underlining the need for a political solution and diplomatic dialogue to resolve the crisis between Moscow and Kiev.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran supports any political effort to resolve the crisis,” the top Iranian diplomat said. “We are against war whether in Ukraine, Afghanistan or Yemen and any other place without exception."

Amir-Abdollahian said Iran, in coordination with the Polish foreign ministry, plans to establish a Red Crescent medical team at the Ukraine-Poland border to assist Ukrainian refugees.

During the phone conversation with the top Ukrainian diplomat, Amir-Abdollahian also called on Ukraine’s government to help Iranians stuck in the country’s conflict zones to leave.

Kuleba, for his part, expressed gratitude for Iran’s anti-war stances and its delivery of humanitarian aid for Ukrainian refugees at the border with Poland, stressing that Kiev will spare no effort to protect diplomatic missions, including those belonging to the Islamic Republic.

Underlining Kiev’s stance on the ending the conflict, Kuleba cited his recent talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and said the continuation of bilateral negotiations was necessary to resolve the crisis.

The top Ukrainian diplomat appreciated Iran’s opposition to war and called for the Islamic Republic’s support to stop the conflict in the former Soviet state.

FMs of Pakistan, Iran discuss further expansion of ties

Separately on Monday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had a phone conversation with Amir-Abdollahian during which the two diplomats discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral ties and exchanged views on the regional developments.

The Pakistani foreign ministry said in a press release that Qureshi and his Iranian counterpart agreed to intensify efforts to further expand cooperation between Islamabad and Tehran in all areas of mutual interest.

Qureshi also thanked the Iranian leadership’s consistent support for the people in the Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The press release on Monday said Amir-Abdollahian, for his part, extended felicitations on the 75th anniversary of Pakistan’s Independence.

Pakistan and Iran enjoy close fraternal relations rooted in their shared history, common culture and people-to-people linkages, it added. The two countries share perspectives on a range of regional and global issues of mutual interest.

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