Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian denied on Wednesday “rumors” about his resignation amid criticism over his participation at the Baghdad conference in Jordan last month.
Critics viewed the conference as an attempt to take Iran out of “regional equations”.
French President Emmanuel Macron had at the summit remarked that problems in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria cannot be resolved without weakening Iran’s regional role.
Former Iranian ambassador to London Jalal Sadatian has described the government’s current foreign policy as “very weak”, noting a “loss in balance” in Tehran’s foreign relations – a reference to its reliance on China and Russia.
Amirabdollahian had also come under attack for acknowledging that Iran had sent drones to Russia before later repeatedly backtracking on the comments.
The Farheekhtegan daily, which is close to the supreme leader, described the FM’s behavior as “harmful” and “evidence of serious diplomatic weakness”, doubting that this approach could secure national interests.
The FM’s qualifications again came to light this week amid uproar in Iran over the naming of the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup football tournament that is being hosted by neighboring Iraq.
Amirabdollahian summoned the Iraqi ambassador to complain about “Iran’s sensitivities” over the term “Arabian Gulf”.
Iraq on Friday welcomed Arab national teams from across the region to its southern city of Basra for the 25th edition of the competition officially known as Arabian Gulf Cup.
It is the first time Iraq has hosted the biennial competition — commonly referred to as the “Gulf Cup” — since it was launched in 1979.
“We summoned the Iraqi ambassador” on Sunday over the issue, Amirabdollahian said, quoted by state news agency IRNA.
“Although we have strategic, brotherly and deep relations with Iraq, we have clearly expressed our protest about this issue,” he said.
