The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned on Sunday the charge d'affaires of the Polish Embassy in Teheran to protest against a Middle East conference in Warsaw, planned to focus chiefly on Iran.
On Friday, the US Department of State and the Polish Foreign Ministry announced that Warsaw will host a ministerial-level conference on the Middle East problem, on February 13-14. The meeting is expected to focus on Iran. The meeting was also announced on Fox News by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The Polish charge d'affaires, Wojciech Unolt, was told that the Polish government's decision to host the conference is considered as "an act of hostility towards Iran." He was also informed that Teheran might decide to implement retaliatory measures, the Iranian state agency IRNA reported.
According to the Iranian agency, the Polish diplomat provided explanations regarding the conference and declared that it does not have an anti-Iranian nature.
On Friday, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif criticised Poland for the coorganisation of the conference.
On Sunday, the Iranian Culture Ministry announced that it suspended a Polish film festival, planned for late January in Teheran. The ministry stressed that the festival will be suspended until Poland's authorities improve themselves and show proper behaviour towards Iran.
Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki announced on Friday that "Poland considers the Middle-East peace issue as one of the most important challenges for foreign and defence policy. Halting fighting in this conflict-ridden region is a fundamental issue for ensuring global stability and peace."
Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz expressed his hope that the Middle East conference will make it possible to build a lasting platform for dialogue and will bring closer the US and EU positions on Iran. He also stressed that the Middle East "remains a key region from the point of view of global political stability and security."