TEHRAN – Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said on Thursday that the Islamic Republic supports popular uprisings in the Arab world.

It is Iran’s policy to support regional nations and it will stand its ground, Larijani told a group of university students in Ilam.
Supporting the oppressed people in the region is also important to Iran’s national interests, he stated.
He went on to say that the recent developments in the region are a result of Islamic awakening and political courage and wisdom.
However, certain countries want to attribute popular movements to the U.S. and undermine the revolutions, he added.
They believe that the United States is trying to create new conditions in the region, the senior legislator noted.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he said Iran should turn into the scientific and economic hub of the region.
“The Islamic Republic is a strong model in political and religious areas for regional countries and it should become the scientific and economic pivot in the region in the near future,” Larijani opined