TEHRAN -- Iran welcomed the stances taken in the recent meetings of the foreign ministers of the Arab League and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) on ensuring the rights of Palestinian people and condemning the Zionist regime's crimes.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid Reza Assefi on Tuesday called for the international community and the United Nations to take immediate and strong action to halt the Zionist regime's massacre of Palestinians.

Assefi also underlined that Iran is cooperating with the international community's efforts to hold an international gathering to reach a consensus on the campaign against terrorism and the root cause of the phenomenon.

Assefi rejected a part of the final statement of the two meetings, which referred to the three Iranian islands of the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa, saying the three islands are integral parts of Iranian territory. "Any action taken by Iran on any part of its soil, including the islands, is the legitimate right of the country and in line with its sovereignty," he stressed.

He described as positive and constructive the recent meetings and contacts between Iranian and UAE officials. "Removal of the existing misunderstanding between the two countries is possible through direct and bilateral talks between the two neighboring states," he said.