TEHRAN - A senior adviser to the Iranian parliament speaker said on Tuesday that protecting the country’s “principled position” and “political independence” is “vitally important”.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the comments when he was asked about the cancelation of a meeting between Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani and German Vice-Chancellor and Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel.

“The reason behind canceling the planned meeting of Dr. Larijani with Gabriel, the German economy minister, is totally obvious and needs no more explanation,” Amir-Abdollahian remarked.

Larijani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif cancelled meetings with Gabriel who had visited Iran at the head of an economic delegation on Tuesday.

Gabriel said in an interview published by weekly news magazine Der Spiegel last Friday that Iran could have normal, friendly relations with Germany only when it recognizes Israel.

Reacting to the remarks by Gabriel, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi immediately said Iran-Germany relations are based on mutual respect and that Iran will accept no precondition for a friendly and normal ties with Berlin.

“As we have stressed for many times, relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Germany are based on mutual interests and respect and no precondition is accepted in relations,” Qassemi said.

NA/PA