According to Mehr News Agency, President Pezeshikian met with Friedrich Stift, the new Austrian ambassador to Tehran, on Tuesday.
At the ceremony to confer Mr. Stift’s credentials, Mr. Pezeshkian referred to the positive and historical background of Tehran-Vienna relations. He said that bilateral relations between the two countries have always been friendly, constructive and based on mutual respect, adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran aims to deepen and expand ties in all fields.
The Iranian President said that exchanges, cooperation and expanding relations with all countries based on friendship, peace and common interests form the core of Iran’s foreign policy. He added that since the early days of the government’s formation, malicious actors have sought to cast doubt on Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities, making false claims and massive propaganda to disrupt Iran’s active engagement with the international community.
He stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran has never sought nuclear weapons and that the country’s nuclear program is entirely aimed at using peaceful nuclear capabilities to meet the needs of its people in health, medicine, industry, agriculture, science and technology.
Mr. Pezeshkian wished the new Austrian ambassador every success in his mission and expressed the hope that the ambassador would provide an accurate and fair picture of Iran’s reality and help counter false anti-Iranian rhetoric.
The President also emphasized the government’s internal approach towards promoting unity among Iran’s various ethnic and religious groups, and stressed that Iran seeks constructive relations based on mutual respect and respect for the territorial integrity of its neighbors and other countries, both regionally and globally.
Mr. Friedrich Stift conveyed the warm greetings of the President of Austria to Mr. Pezeshkian. Recalling his first diplomatic mission to Iran, he said it coincided with the nuclear negotiations and pointed out that the United States’ unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA had bitter consequences.
He added that he had watched the recent military attacks against Iran with deep sadness, noting that as a friend of Iran, those events had a deep impact on him. He stressed that Austria in no way endorses such actions and remains committed to resolving issues through dialogue, engagement and diplomacy.
Stift reiterated the county’s readiness to support the diplomatic process, adding that Austria is always ready to host and facilitate dialogue. He expressed hope that the coming years will bring stability, peace and progress to the world, especially Iran and its people.
He also said that he would make every effort to strengthen bilateral cooperation in all areas.
MNA/6660506