Iran Press/Irannews: The meeting, hosted by Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani, was attended by security officials from Iran, Russia, China, India, and Afghanistan.
Speaking at the meeting, Shamkhani said: “The instrumental use of terrorism backed with political and logistical support, the production and spread of deviant Takfiri beliefs, interference in the internal affairs of other countries and occupation under the pretext of [fighting] terrorism are clear examples of such double standards.”
Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani said at the press conference that the US sanctions are ‘old weapons’ adding that there are no UN resolutions about US sanctions against Iran, that is the United Nations has not authorized US to slap sanctions on Iran, and all US unilateral sanctions are illegal.
In response to threats by US President Donald Trump at the UN general assembly session on Tuesday, Shamkhani stressed that “we will resist the sanctions by the resilience of our people and the strength of our economy.”
Ali Shamkhani was joined by his counterparts from Russia, China, India and Afghanistan, Nikolai Patrushev, Dang Jing Wing, Ajit Doval, and Hamdullah Mohib.
The meeting came only four days after a terrorist attack targeted a military parade in the southern Iranian city of Ahvaz, leaving scores of casualties.
Commenting on the tragedy, head of Iran's National Security Council said, foreign-backed terrorist attack in southwestern city of Ahvaz, once again revealed the double-standard approach of those countries which falsely claim to fight terrorism.
Speaking to reporters on the sideline of the first meeting of national security secretaries and advisers of regional states, Shamkhani warned about relocation of defeated terrorists from Iraq and Syria to Afghanistan.
During the meeting, Patrushev also addressed the situation in Afghanistan, a country which has suffered from Taliban and Daesh militancy for many years.
The Russian official warned against the growing capabilities of the Taliban militant group despite the presence of thousands of American forces in Afghanistan.
“The Taliban’s military successes prove the futility of attempts to bet on the use of military force in persuading Afghanistan’s traditional opposition to negotiate,” he said. “It can be stated that this is happening despite the United States' 17-year military presence in Afghanistan.”
Meanwhile, commenting on the security situation in Afghanistan, Mohib said the terrorists wreaking havoc there could not be weakened as long as they enjoy financial and logistical support from abroad.
The Chinese and Indian security officials also addressed the meeting, expressing their countries’ readiness to help devise mechanisms to cut the flow of foreign aid to the terrorists operating in the region.
Participants at the ‘Regional Security Dialogue’ meeting in Tehran in the final statement said terrorism, narcotics, organized crimes and foreign interference in the region, endanger national security in countries of the region.
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