Iran slams Malaysian government's accusations during Saudi King’s visit

Iran has slammed the Malaysian government over accusing Tehran of interfering in the affairs of countries in the region and spreading “sectarianism” among its neighbours, Tehran-based Mehr News Agency reported on Thursday.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Bahram Ghasemi, strongly criticised on Thursday article 15 of the statement by the Saudi King, Salman Bin Abdulaziz, at the conclusion of his official visit to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, in which he accused Iran of “influencing and destabilising” the Islamic world.

In a joint anti-Iran statement by Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, the Malaysian government has expressed its concern over what it called “Iranian interference in the internal affairs of countries in the region,” stressing that Iran “must respect countries’ sovereignty.”

Read: Iran has sudden policy change towards Saudi Arabia

Responding to the joint statement by Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, Ghasemi asserted that the “principled policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran as an influential and pacific country is based on mutual respect and avoidance of intervention into domestic issues of other countries and following good neighbourliness and cooperation with all neighbours and countries in region and world in order to improve stability, security and peace and indefatigable fight against terrorism.”

He called on the Kuala Lumpur government to avoid involvement in “dangerous” scenarios that are aimed at undermining Muslim unity and supporting Takfiri terrorist groups, particularly Daesh, through financial cooperation with certain countries.

“Malaysian government is expected to review, as wisely as before, the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic and avoid suspicious areas and deteriorating issues by deep and long-term considerations,” Ghasemi reiterated.

On the anti-Iran allegations raised by the Saudi King, he described it as “a new episode in Saudi Arabia’s failed attempts to falsify realities,” adding that the accusations are “totally imaginary.”

The Iranian official advised all the Islamic countries to stay more vigilant at regional and global situations and avoid actions that would end-up harming friendly relations.