Iran foreign minister: reports about toppling Al Assad are baseless

The Iranian government believes that it had to help Syria and Iraq. “Iran’s neighbors don’t have to worry about the nuclear deal. We don’t trust the US and Israel,” Iranian foreign minister Ahmed Djawad Drif told Echorouk in an interview.

As you are on a visit to Algeria, what does your country propose to support cooperation?

Relations between Algeria and Iran are very old and strong. We need more consultation to develop them in common interest fields. We came to talk to our brothers in Algeria to develop bilateral relations and treat regional issues in Libya, Syria, Yemen and other countries.

We need more consultation with friend governments which have common opinions. I had the opportunity to meet His Excellency the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and my friend the foreign minister. We talked about regional problems and ways to find a serious dialogue.

You conveyed a letter from your president to his Algerian counterpart. What was its subject?

We have good relations with Algeria. The letter was about bilateral relations and common interests in oil market. I had the honor to meet His Excellency President Bouteflika and senior officials in Algeria. We talked about regional crises, extremism, terrorism and sectarian problems. We examined ways to solve those crises so that we would reach cooperation between Algeria and Iran. A common action plan would be decided.

Do you have a common vision with Algeria to face oil price fall?

Iran, Algeria and friend states which have the same opinions and ideas continue cooperation in this field. We have to take advantage from those conditions and reduce reliance on oil incomes. I believe that oil price fall is an economically blessed phenomenon and has a positive impact on the two countries. They will not rely only on oil incomes.

Fears were raised after sanctions had been lifted on u. That will enable you to increase your market share to a million barrels. As a result, another oil prices shock may happen. Is it possible?

Previously, Iran did not benefit from its oil. Now, it wants to do that. Oil exporting countries are interested in this point.

Is there any security cooperation?

We believe that extremism and terrorism have no limits. Though we have to admit that there are reasons which fuel the situation. Because of that, we have to prepare a common strategy and not military solutions.

Did you take into account the possibility that the Zionist lobby would foil the deal signed with the US?

Unfortunately, Zionists consider this deal as a danger. They tried to give a false image about Iran. There is illogical Zionist influence on the US decision. Iran showed to the world that it was looking for a reasonable solution.

It is said there is a deal between Iran and western countries to help Syrian President Bachar Al Assad to get out of Syria. Is it true?

No, it isn’t. We had a deal with our Russian friends to accept the Syrian people’s decision. No one can decide in their place.

Although you say Iran is for political solutions, your military forces are still fighting with Al Assad and the Iraqi government.

We believe that the crisis in Syria, Yemen and Iraq should be solved through a political solution. We also believe that we must face terror groups because they kill people. The international community should help the Iraqi and Syrian governments. This is not in contradiction with finding a political solution. Otherwise, extremist groups would occupy more lands and the danger would be bigger.

Your North African tour started from Tunisia and stopped in Algeria. You did not pass by Morocco. Does it mean that there is tension between Iran and Morocco as it was part of a military action in Yemen? The Iranian TV broadcast a report about Western Sahara which raised anger in Morocco.

There is nothing to do with that. I will pay a visit Morocco on the right time. I visited Tunis and Algiers in view of policies between Iran and Algeria. Anyway, I will pay visit to other countries.

How is your relation with Egypt?

We respect the Egyptian government. We hope that it will adopt strong policies to set peace and security in the region. We know that this government has a long history and has to play a positive role.

How do you see the region’s future?

If we build the future together, it will be better. If we choose conflict, insecurity, fear, stress and helping extremism and terrorism, the future will be bad.

Iran believes in a radian future and cooperate with others to achieve that. We hope that our neighbors will follow the same policy and be confident that it is us who made the future.