Iran Says Respects Brexit Referendum Results
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that the country honors the British people’s decision to leave the European Union, and made it clear that Brexit will not bring about any change in Tehran’s attitude towards London.
“As a democratic establishment, the Islamic Republic of Iran respects the British people’s vote on leaving the European Union, and considers that as being in line with the will of majority of that country’s people to adopt their own foreign policy,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
It also underlined that Iran always favors expansion of relations with the European countries on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of each other, stressing that Brexit is not going to change anything about Iran’s attitude towards Britain.
Britain voted to leave the European Union, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron and dealing the biggest blow to the European project of greater unity since World War Two.
Global financial markets plunged as results from the referendum showed a near 52-48 percent split for leaving.
The pound fell more than 10 percent against the dollar to levels last seen in 1985, its biggest one-day fall in history, and European shares plummeted more than 8 percent, headed for their biggest ever one-day fall.
Cameron, who lost his gamble betting the nation's future on an outcome he predicted would be catastrophic, said he would resign as prime minister by October.
"I do not think it would be right for me to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination," he said in a televised address outside his Downing Street office on Friday morning.
The vote will initiate at least two years of divorce proceedings with the EU, the first exit by any member state. Cameron said it would be up to his successor to formally start the exit process.
