Iran Does Not Recognize Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk's Entry into Russia – Abdollahian

Iran does not recognize the entry of Crimea and four new regions into the Russian Federation, despite excellent relations with Moscow, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told TRT World.

“We recognize the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries within the framework of international law; therefore, despite the excellent relations between Tehran and Moscow, we do not recognize the separation of Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk from Ukraine... Because we insist on our consistent principle of foreign policy. When we say that the Ukrainian conflict is not a solution, we believe in our position as a fundamental political principle that we adhere to,” Abdollahian stated.

Crimea became a Russian region following a referendum held in March 2014, after the coup in Ukraine. The self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, as well as the regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, became subjects of the Russian Federation as a result of referendums held there last autumn.