Iran Says Would Welcome Canada’s Move to Restore Ties
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari on Monday said Tehran was not the one that cut its ties with Ottawa, and thus welcomes any move by the new Canadian administration to resume bilateral ties.
The new Canadian administration is aware of its predecessor’s wrong policy of cutting relations with Iran, Jaberi Ansari said in his weekly press conference in Tehran, adding that severing ties with others has proved to be a failed and futile policy.
“We hope that following the change in Canada’s government …, the new Canadian administration would make necessary political and diplomatic decisions to restore the severed ties,” he said.
He went on to say that Tehran was not the side that cut the ties and would, naturally, welcome any move by the Canadian government to resume the relations.
Iran would show appropriate reaction if any such decision is made by Canada, Jaberi Ansari stressed.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper had severed diplomatic relations with Iran in September 2012, citing, among other pretexts, what it described as “continued threats from Iran to Israel”.
The Canadian government closed its embassy in the Iranian capital, Tehran, and demanded that Iranian diplomats leave Canada within five days.
The two countries maintain interest sections in the embassies of third countries.
However, Canada’s new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to reopen the country’s embassy in Iran.
The Liberal leader rode a late surge to a stunning majority election victory on October 19, 2015, toppling Harper’s Conservatives with a promise of change and returning a touch of glamor, youth and charisma to Ottawa.
