Instrumental Use Of Sanctions, Real Manifestation Of Soft Terrorism: Envoy

Rome, Oct 18, IRNA – Iran’s Ambassador to Italy Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini said on Wednesday that instrumental use of sanctions to put pressure on others in order to give up their legitimate national rights is a real manifestation of soft terrorism. Addressing an international seminar themed ‘international sanctions and its costs’ attended by Italian and Czech thinkers, he outlined Iran’s policies on sanctions. Unfortunately, sanctions are employed as a means for putting pressure on certain countries in a bid to materialize their, even illegitimate, objectives, he said. Hosseini also said that experience has it that sanctions will be ineffective and they will finally serve as a pretext to start a war. Criticizing those imposing the sanctions for instrumental use of valuable concepts such as human rights, democracy and international regulations, he further noted that such acts are aimed at materializing their domineering policies. Referring to the sanctions imposed by the US and Europe, he further noted, “I ,as a representative of Iran, am honored to speak on behalf of a nation which has not used force as a tool for advancing its foreign policy. Pointing to the negative repercussions of the sanctions, he further noted that the Iranian nation will develop a bad attitude towards the EU and Europe’s decline of status before a nation with a 7,000 years old civilization is irreparable. Thanks to Iran’s access to international waters, rich resources and young manpower, regime based on democracy, self-confidence and divine faith, sanctions will never affect the Iranian nation’s resolve. The sanctions have not made the Iranian nation give up its path of progress; rather it brought about scientific and economic growth, the envoy said./end