Iran Criticizes Joint Statement by China and Saudi Arabia

Iran has criticized the joint statement made by China and the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), calling it a continuation of the Council's failed anti-Iranian policies. The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Naser Kanani, described the statement as a "fruitless attempt" by Council members to "conceal their financial, political, and logistical support for terrorist groups operating in the region."

The official addressed the vast material and human losses caused to residents due to the "destructive policies" of several Council members, urging them to reconsider their approaches to regional issues and adopt a more "constructive" stance.

The statement was issued at the conclusion of the 43rd summit of the GCC in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, coinciding with the end of Chinese President Xi Jinping's official visit to the kingdom.

In their announcement, the GCC member states reaffirmed their support for the United Arab Emirates' efforts to achieve a "peaceful resolution" regarding the three Iranian islands in the Gulf—Abu Musa, Lesser Tunb, and Greater Tunb.

Kanani reaffirmed Iran's principled stance on the islands, describing them as "an inseparable and permanent" part of Iran's territory, as reported by Press TV.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran considers any claim to the islands as a destabilizing move, an intervention in its internal affairs, and a violation of its territorial sovereignty, and strongly condemns it," said the Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

In the Council's statement, Iran was also accused of being a "threat to the safety of international waterways and oil facilities." Kanani stated that the Islamic Republic's armed forces are determined to maintain maritime security in regional waters, and such declarations cannot undermine their resolve to ensure security for their country and the region.

He also noted that the Chinese ambassador to Tehran, Chang Huan, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry following the participation of the Chinese president in the Council's summit. During the meeting, he said, the Islamic Republic expressed its "deep dissatisfaction" with the interventionist approach of the final declaration regarding Iran's territorial integrity, reaffirming Iran's legal ownership of the three islands in the Persian Gulf.

"Like any other part of Iranian territory, the three islands have never been and will never be the subject of negotiations with any country," he stated.

For its part, the Chinese representative reaffirmed Beijing's respect for Iran's territorial integrity, stating that Xi Jinping's visit to Riyadh during the summit was part of China's efforts to further promote peace and stability in the region and to advance negotiations as a tool for regional resolution.

The ambassador added that China's foreign policy towards the Gulf region is based on “balance,” noting that an upcoming visit by the Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China to Iran will affirm this approach.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian emphasized that the three islands—Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb—are eternal parts of Iran’s territory, highlighting the necessity to respect Iran's territorial integrity. He stated on his Twitter page that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not shy away from taking any action against any party, regardless of who they are, regarding the need to respect its territorial integrity.

The president's office's Deputy Director for Political Affairs, Mohammad Jamshidi, also expressed discontent over the joint statement from China and Saudi Arabia. "Reminder to our partners in Beijing: while Saudi Arabia was, along with the U.S., supporting ISIS/Al-Qaeda in Syria and poorly treating Yemen, Iran was fighting against terrorist groups to restore regional stability and security, preventing the spread of instability both East and West," Jamshidi wrote on his Twitter account.