Iran-Russia Strategic Cooperation Treaty Working: Diplomat

"The preparation of a new large international treaty continues. The sides reaffirm their interest in promptly completing this process and signing this document," Maria Zakharova said at a press briefing in response to a question about potential complications due to Tehran’s protest, expressed to the Russian envoy over a joint statement after the strategic dialogue meeting between Russia and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC).

Zakharova pointed out that the outcome of the July 10 Russia-Persian Gulf Cooperation Council Strategic dialogue meeting in Moscow was discussed during the July 18 phone call between the foreign ministers of Russia and Iran.

"It was noted, and it was also said in the statement for the media - the foreign ministers of the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to the basic principles of international law, enshrined in the UN Charter, in their entirety and interconnection," the Russian diplomat explained, TASS news agency reported.

"This includes respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity," she added.

In a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian expressed his “surprise” at the provisions of the joint statement by Russia and the PGCC about the three Iranian islands and underscored Iran's “historical and eternal” ownership of the islands.

He reaffirmed that the three islands are an integral part of Iran and called on Russia to revise its stance on the issue.

Lavrov underlined that Moscow has “no doubts” about the Islamic Republic’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and fully respects them.

The clarification by Lavrov came a week after Russia endorsed a statement by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council that seemed to challenge Iran’s sovereignty over the trio islands of the Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa.