Spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nasser Kanaani rejected the content of the joint statement of the countries of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council and Russia regarding the three Iranian islands. “These islands belong to Iran forever and issuing such statements is in contradiction with the friendly relations between Iran and its neighbors,” he said. “The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes the continuation of the policy of good neighborliness and mutual respect, and considers the development and stability of the region to be the collective responsibility of the countries of the region,” Kanaani added