Sri Lanka always supports Iran -Wimal

Iran did not accede to a single condition laid down by the United States because it knew that if it did so, it will have to succumb to hundreds of conditions laid down by the super power later, said Iranian Foreign Minister Dr Ali Akbar Saleh when Construction Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa called on him.

Weerawansa called on him at the Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran on the sidelines of the regional workshop on slum upgrading in Tehran on July 3.

A press release by the Construction, Engineering Services Housing and Common Amenities Ministry said during the discussions, the Iranian minister said the US sanctions imposed on Iran had a very minor and insignificant economic effect on Iran because the country had evolved a long-term plan to effectively brace up to such a situation.

The Iranian Foreign Minister said US sanctions had affected other countries engaged in trade with Iran rather than Iran itself.

Minister Weerawansa said the Sri Lankan government always stood behind Iran as regards its humanitarian needs. US sanctions had only helped further strengthen friendship and relations between Iran and Sri Lanka, he said.

Weerawansa said on behalf of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the government, he wished to thank Iran for the unstinted support it extended to Sri Lanka at the 19th UNHRC sessions in Geneva and for supplying fuel at concessionary prices.