Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham says that Germany’s view will “not sway” the Islamic Republic’s policy on Israel, Fars News, an Iranian news service, reports.
On Sunday, German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who is on an official visit to Tehran, told German media that he would ask for Iran’s recognition of Israel during his meetings with Iranian officials.
According to Fars News, Gabriel’s remarks have caused “major controversy” in Iran and Afkham says that Tehran policy on Israel will not change.
“We have totally different views from Germany on certain regional issues in the Middle East and we have explicitly expressed our viewpoints in different negotiations; this is not something new,” Afkham is quoted by Fars as saying.
“The main goal of German vice chancellor’s visit to Iran is a discussion of the prospects of mutual cooperation; we quite naturally have our own concerns and views on existing threats, including the Zionist regime’s threats and the roots of the crises in the region,” Afkham is quoted as saying.
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