Responding to a question referencing remarks made by U.S. Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, which were addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze rejected the claim linking Georgia to Iran and China.

Kobakhidze said: “What Georgia and Iran? Are you Joe Wilsons or what? The American administration itself is talking about doing everything to deepen relations with China, and about wanting to deepen relations with Russia.”

He also responded to a question about why the Iranian ambassador attended the Tbilisi Sustainable Development Forum instead of ambassadors from Western countries.

According to Kobakhidze, all ambassadors are invited to such events:

“A lot of ambassadors attended this event as well. All ambassadors are invited - don’t go into such unseriousness! When such events are held, invitations are sent to all ambassadors and all countries that have representation in the capital and with which Georgia has diplomatic relations. Who comes and who does not is up to the diplomatic corps. I remind you of May 26 and Police Day, where a wide spectrum of ambassadors was represented.

As for Iran - do not sink to the level of Joe Wilson and Eka Gigauri!”

He further stated that he does not agree with Joe Wilson’s position, even after journalists told him that Wilson’s views were echoed by Marco Rubio.

“What did he agree with - that it is a pro-Iranian government? That is the level of Joe Wilson. He did not agree; that is what you want [to believe]. You should not descend to the level of Joe Wilson, who says all kinds of nonsense. Wilson and Gigauri came out and talked about Georgia allegedly being used to bypass Iranian sanctions.

As for sanctions evasion - our trade with Iran is as follows: our exports to Iran are 0.5%, and imports are 1.5%. And in such a situation, these shameful people claim that Georgia is helping Iran bypass sanctions. What could be more shameful than that? My appeal is: do not descend to the level of Eka Gigauri and Joe Wilson.”

As a reminder, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated in Congress that he hopes the United States will see a change in Georgia’s current trajectory.

He was responding to Congressman Joe Wilson, who accused Georgian Dream of supporting Iran and China and asked what should be done to address what he called the “rapid radicalization” allegedly supported by the Georgian government.

Rubio said that the concerns were “valid” and part of U.S. “existing concerns,” but also noted that the Georgian government had taken some steps indicating interest in improving relations with Washington. He added that the U.S. had presented requirements to the Georgian government, received some “positive responses,” and hoped for progress in changing the current trajectory of relations.

Rubio also said that the Georgian authorities had themselves asked what was needed to improve relations with the United States, and Washington had responded accordingly, expressing hope for progress not only in relations but also in changes in behavior.