Western states turn nation’s peaceful demands into riot: FM spox

Tehran, IRNA – The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry criticized the Western countries here on Monday for their provocative measures during the recent developments in Iran; the measures which led the nation peaceful demands into turmoil. The Western countries, including Canada, and their foreign ministers through their interference, provocative measures, and unconstructive and irresponsible acts did cause a riot, Nasser Kanaani told reporters at his weekly press conference in Tehran. They created an improper condition that did not let the voice of peaceful criticism be heard, he underlined. Condemning the October 26 terrorist attack on Shah Cheragh – a holy shrine in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz – during which 13 people were killed and 30 others were wounded, the spokesman highlighted the prominent role of former Qods Force Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), General Qassem Soleimani, in the fight against terrorism, and said if his efforts were not taken, everyone would be faced with terrorist groups today. Lt General Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, the acting commander of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), known as the Hashd al-Shaabi, were assassinated in Baghdad by the US on January 3, 2020. In his remarks, the spokesman slammed those who have kept silent on terrorist crimes. About the US sanctions against Iran, the spokesman said Iranian children and women have been suffering from those sanctions. Condemning their interference in the domestic affairs of Iran and affairs related to women, Kanaani said their claim about the situation of women in Iran is not based on reality. Elsewhere, the spokesman referred to Germany’s decision to put the IRGC on the terrorist list and said that sanctioning Islamic Republic’s official military body is completely illegal. Censuring Australia for its indifference to the rights of refugees, the spokesman said that certain so-called advocates of human rights have been using the issue as a tool for imposing their political opinions on others. Further, he referred to an unofficial session held at the UN and said the aim of such a forum is to put political pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran. Unfortunately, the anti-Iran approach taken by Javaid Rehman, the third Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, has affected the issue. On the claim about use of Iran’s drones in the war in Ukraine, Kanaani said the Islamic Republic does not dispatch weapons to any side of the conflicts in Ukraine. The Islamic Republic believes in political ways for solving conflicts. About the Saturday Halloween incident in South Korea which led to the death of five Iranian nationals and over 150 other people, the spokesman said the Korean government has recently acted irresponsibly when dealing with Iran’s frozen assets and the internal developments in the country. Touching upon the activities of the London-based Persian language TV channel of Iran International, the spokesman said it is acting like a war room against the Islamic Republic. The Islamic Republic has been following up on the network's anti-Iran activities through legal sources. Regarding the imposition of the US and the European Union sanctions upon Iran, Kanaani said their decision on Iran was a repetition of their unconstructive measures and their wrong understanding of developments in Iran. The Islamic Republic has never left the negotiating table and will never do so, he underlined, adding that the US political decision can help proceed with talks to lead to the formation of an agreement. Turning to the issue of Iran’s cooperation with Qatar, the spokesman said that regular visits have been taking place between Tehran and Doha as the two enjoy cordial ties and act as partners. About the travel of Iran’s Majlis (Parliament) Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf to Azerbaijan, the spokesman said the visit will take place within the framework of good and close ties. At the end of his remarks, Kanaani talked of the Yemen crisis and said the Islamic Republic favors a ceasefire there. Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish