Kerry receives warm Iran, Russia welcome

MOSCOW - Reuters

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi. EPA Photo

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi wished success to his new U.S. counterpart John Kerry on Feb. 1, and expressed the hope that he will manage to soften “anti-Iranian” U.S. policy. Similarly, Russia has welcomed the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of John Kerry as the next secretary of state and suggested his appointment could improve ties that have been badly strained over the past year.

Salehi said the former presidential candidate and senator was a known figure in the U.S. foreign policy field and has good knowledge of current events in the Middle East. “I hope that, thanks to his personal characteristics, he will be able to change part of the anti-Iran approach and policy of the American government,” Salehi said. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman echoed Salehi’s words. “I would like to say that we are hoping for constructive work with him,” spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said. “John Kerry is a well-known political figure with rich experience in international affairs and knowledge of international relations.”

“For this reason we are convinced that (his appointment) will provide good support for the development of interaction between our countries, and help give bilateral cooperation a positive dynamic.”