Iran supports any dialogue-based initiative to end Ukraine war: Shamkhani

Iran’s top security official says Tehran welcomes and supports any dialogue-based initiative for establishment of peace between Russia and Ukraine, reiterating the Islamic Republic’s readiness to help end the simmering war.

According to Press TV, Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), made the remarks on Wednesday in a meeting with the visiting Russia's Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev in Tehran.

“Iran welcomes and backs any initiative that leads to a ceasefire and peace between Russia and Ukraine based on dialogue, and is ready to play a role in ending the war,” Shamkhani said.

Referring to regional and global developments, he stressed that “dialogue as well as regional and international cooperation” are the path to resolution of current challenges and crises.

For his part, Patrushev also briefed the senior Iranian official on the crisis in Ukraine, pointing to the constant efforts of Western media to distort realities.

“Since the beginning [of the war], the Western media empire made extensive efforts through distorting realities to deviate the world’s public opinion about how the crisis had started and about truths on the ground,” said the Russian official.

He noted that Western countries, especially the US, are seeking to “impose” their political will on independent states through “hybrid wars” which he said was a violation of the UN Charter.

Economic cooperation

The two officials also conferred on ways to increase bilateral economic cooperation amid unilateral sanctions imposed against both countries by Western states.

Shamkhani said that expanding bilateral and regional cooperation in the economic field with neighboring states is among the top “strategic priorities” of the country.

He referred to the importance of “strengthening the process of bilateral cooperation in energy, transportation, agriculture, trade, banking, and environment with Russia,” calling for adopting necessary measures to remove the barriers immediately.

Iran and Russia can establish joint institutions to “confront sanctions,” he said, calling for using the capacities of international institutions against sanctions and boycotters.

Patrushev, for his part, voiced satisfaction with Tehran-Moscow cooperation gaining momentum in various fields.

SS