Talking to reports during her weekly press briefing, she commented on the decision of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to run in the coming presidential elections.
She said Iran has always stated that it is ready to help resolve the Syrian crisis and end war there, urging all belligerent sides to make efforts to settle the crisis.
She reiterated that Iran believed holding of the presidential election could play a significant role in establishment of peace and stability in Syria.
Noting that holding elections is a basic right of all world nations including Syrians, Afkham said the international community has to respect the will of the Syrian nation to hold elections as a step towards peace and stability in the region.
Elsewhere in her comments, she said the Iranian government is drafting an agreement with Kuala Lumpur to transfer Iranian citizens imprisoned in Malaysia to Iran.
A number of Iranians are presently imprisoned in Malaysia for drug smuggling or other illegal acts, she explained.
Afkham also pointed to the visit of the Foreign Ministry director general for political affairs Hamid Baeedinezhad to New York and said he is to attend the third Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference.
On situation in Egypt, the spokeswoman said Iran was closely following developments there, stressing that Tehran greatly respected the great revolution taken place in that country.
She said the death penalties issued for a number of Muslim Brotherhood members could be of adverse political and social consequences for the country.
Condemning western sanctions against Russia, she said sanctions are proven to be an unsuccessful method initiated by bullying powers.
Iran believed crises should be settled through dialogue and peaceful methods, she added.
Commenting on the recent remarks of the US secretary of stateˈs spokesperson on Iran’s military potentials, she said they are aimed at diverting the public attention from the chain of mistakes, threats and double-standard actions made by the US in the region.
Stressing Iran’s will to reinforce mutual ties and confidence with its neighboring countries, Afkham stressed that Iran’s military and missile advancement poses no threat to its neighbors or the regional peace because it in fact guaranteed peace, security and stability.
As for the parliamentary elections in Iraq scheduled for April 30, she hoped the results of the polling would lead to consolidation of the nation’s determination to rebuild their country.
