News / Politics

UN rights resolution meant to spread Iranophobia: UN envoy

Saturday, 21 November 2015 7:18 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 21 November 2015 7:19 AM ]

Iran’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Gholam Hossein Dehqani

Iran has slammed as “baseless” a newly-passed United Nations (UN) resolution critical of the country’s human rights record, saying it seeks to spread “Iranophobia.”

Iranian Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Gholam Hossein Dehqani was reacting to the Canada-drafted non-binding resolution adopted by the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly on Thursday on the human rights situation in Iran, IRNA reported on Saturday.

Dehqani rejected the “groundless” claims in the anti-Iran resolution and said such a measure is the consequence of a “short-sighted” approach that deliberately ignores terror threats in the region, and attempts to promote “Iranophobia.”

Many of the people who commit the most ruthless acts of terror now have been born and brought up in some of the same countries behind the resolution, where they have faced xenophobia and isolation.

Dehqani further said Tehran has displayed perseverance in cooperating with the UN human rights mechanisms, saying the Iranian people and government have always sought constructive interaction in the area of human rights through dialog accompanied by goodwill and respect.

He called Canada’s move to submit the draft resolution to the UN a clear step backward in the workings of the world body’s human rights mechanisms as well as an attempt to selectively and politically tarnish the realities concerning the Islamic Republic.

Iran believes that the resolution cannot function as a basis for the promotion of human rights, the official said.

The resolution, which was approved with 76 votes in favor, 35 against and 68 abstentions, accuses Iran of human rights violations. However, support for the measure has declined compared to a similar resolution last year. The US, Israel and the European Union were the main backers of the Canada-drafted resolution, while Russia, China and India voted against it.

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