On January 19, 2023, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, interviewed on the Turkish TVT World TV channel, said that Tehran does not recognize Crimea, Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics, and Kherson and Zaporozhye regions as part of Russia. According to the Iranian Foreign Minister, despite "excellent relations" with Moscow, Iran recognizes the sovereignty and