Eurasia Press & News
TEHRAN (FNA)- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Tuesday said that “unity and cooperation will develop the Islamic world into a major global power”.
In a meeting with visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Ayatollah Khamenei said expansion of cooperation with Islamic countries is Iran’s top priority, Tehran Times reported.
The Supreme Leader lauded Jakarta’s “brave” decision to abstain from the Security Council vote on adopting sanctions against Iran.
The UN Security Council on March 3 issued a third sanctions resolution against Iran over its nuclear activities.
Ayatollah Khamenei asserted that Islamic countries should not surrender to the hegemonic powers since that would block their progress.
Turning to Israel’s crimes against Palestinians, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Palestinians’ resistance showed that this nation is alive and the Islamic world should support it.”
Yudhoyono, for his part, stated that Jakarta is prepared to increase its comprehensive cooperation with Tehran.
The Indonesian president on Tuesday wrapped up his visit to Tehran by signing five memoranda of understanding for cooperation in the fields of energy, trade, industry, education, and culture.
Yudhoyono arrived in Tehran on Monday following an invitation by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who proposed an energy agreement, estimated at $4 billion, during a trip to Jakarta last year.
At a press conference with Ahmadinejad in the Iranian capital on Tuesday, Yudhoyono said that Iran’s nuclear program is completely peaceful and the recent United Nations resolution against the country was illegal.
“Indonesia will always support Iran’s nuclear activities,” Yudhoyono stated.
Indonesia was the only country to abstain from endorsing UN Security Council Resolution 1803 on March 3, which placed additional sanctions on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear activities.
Iran’s nuclear dossier should not be politicized in the international arena, Yudhoyono stated.
Ahmadinejad expressed appreciation for Jakarta’s support for Tehran’s nuclear activities at the UN Security Council meeting and said, “The Indonesian government’s stance on Iran’s nuclear issue is completely just and legal, and I hope it will give rise to a movement for the reform of international bodies.”
He also stated that the Islamic Republic sees no limit to the expansion of ties with Indonesia because this cooperation serves the interests of the two countries.
“We will never cut ties with Indonesia and will consult with the country in all areas” because the presidents of the Islamic Republic and the Republic of Indonesia are like two brothers who act in line with efforts to promote peace and security in the world, he noted.
He also observed that the two countries have very similar views on regional issues, especially the Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan crises.
During their meeting before the press conference, Ahmadinejad told Yudhoyono that Iran and Indonesia have great potential in the economic and cultural spheres and that he foresees unlimited expansion of their ties and cooperation in various areas.
Tehran is ready to share its valuable experiences in various fields, such as peaceful nuclear technology, nanotechnology, and economic affairs, with Jakarta, he said.
“Iran and Indonesia are great supporters of the Islamic world and also havens of international peace,” he stated.
At the beginning of the meeting, the two sides signed five agreements on the construction of refineries, cooperation in the fields of education and agriculture, and cooperation between their chambers of commerce and cooperatives organizations.
