Hossini vs. Jalili

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini needed to go before the reporters to reject a proposal made two days earlier by Iran’s Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili. In a meeting with visiting Omani Foreign Minister Yousuf Bin al-Alawi on 29 December in Tehran, Jalili had proposed changing the Persian Gulf’s name to “Friendship Gulf.” He had emphasized that “Friendship Gulf” is not a slogan, but Iran's strategic view (IRNA, 31 December).

Hossini told reporters on Monday that “Persian Gulf will remain Persian Gulf for ever.” He said what Jalili meant was that “the Persian Gulf can be a place for friendship.”

Jalili, appointed to the post by President Ahmadinejad with the approval of Ayatollah Khamenei, can not be impeached by the Majlis.