Tehran, May 31, IRNA – Chairman of Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Sunday expressed deep concern about the ongoing human tragedy in regional states, especially Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Bahrain, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He said that the humanity shoulders a grave responsibility in the face of the current bloodshed in the region.

He said that the Islamic Republic of Iran encourages the belligerent parties to stop bloodshed and mass killing and take their disputes to the negotiating table.

Ayatollah Rafsanjani acknowledged that nuclear issue has become a dispute between Iran and the global powers.

He criticized opponents of the nuclear talks and said that the democratically-elected Government of Moderation is involved in negotiations to resolve problems and disarm the enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran by ending the propaganda campaign against the nuclear program.

He said Islamphobia, Shiaphobia and campaign against Iran are result of certain wrong policies of the former government over the past several years.

He said that he believes in benefits of détente policy pursued by the Iranian governments in post-war era and reconstruction of infrastructure through engagement with the outside world.

In support of the détente policy, Ayatollah Rafsanjani lauded President Hassan Rouhani's policy of moderation and said landslide victory for the president in the presidential election three years ago indicated public interest in the policy of the incumbent government.

By IRNA