Iran welcomes the formation of an independent South Sudanese government, said Iranian MFA in a statement on Saturday, Press TV reports.

“Now that this trend has led to the formation of an independent South Sudanese government, Iran respects the choice of southern people and hopes the new developments lead to the expansion of stability and peace,” reads the statement.

July 8 marked the creation of independent South Sudan. The country joined the United Nations on Wednesday to become the 193 member state of the organization.