US visa waiver changes, wrong action: Analyst

Press TV has interviewed Majid Tafreshi Khameneh, an international law expert, to discuss a new American legislation that makes changes to a visa waiver program for Europe.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: This visa waiver and proven act of 2015 has received a lot of criticism. Give us your thoughts on this legislation and also why is Iran included in these countries of question?

Khameneh: It is a good question, as the question of mine to the United States I mean legislator bodies that why Iran should be in this list and what is the philosophy out of this story? At the same time, we are witness of Iran and lots of other countries who are dealing with a better future in the Middle East about Syria issue and then we are witness of approving Security Council resolution. At the same time, we see 180-degree anti-peace-oriented legislation in this country.

Mr. Obama unfortunately it seems signed this discriminatory legislation and I think putting Iran as the most safest country that is going to have a new chapter with EU is totally wrong action. As you may [be] aware that 23 countries out of this 38 countries who are enjoying it, I mean free visa entry to the United States are from Europe. Maybe they are going to push European businessmen, tourists and others who don’t come to Iran anymore or those who visited Iran after the March of 2011 don’t be able to come back to United States. It is very ridiculous.

For example, we have lots of inspectors from the IAEA, who are from Europe. How they can…, they should apply for visa and go to long procedure of the visa bureaucracy in United States, why? And I believe that is a very bad signal also to real sponsors of terrorists in our region, those who are sponsoring, those who are facilitating terrorists and they are not in this list. Why? Because it seems the real axis of evil are the axis of the main evil of international community that it is United States.

I totally reject this wrong act and I believe this is some sort of pressing Europe in future and upcoming new chapter of relation with Iran.

Press TV: As you mentioned there are a lot of inconsistencies in this new visa waiver act. You said we are on the verge of a new chapter between Iran and the EU. Both Iran and the EU have harshly criticized this new legislation. Many are expecting some acts of reciprocity with regards to the new legislation. What are your thoughts on that?

Khameneh: As I said, this is totally unacceptable. I cannot find any reason about it. These are blocking people who came to Iran in 2011. This also is anti-universal declaration of human rights. If United States is going to declare himself, introduce himself as the cradle of democracy, as the source of democracy in the world, how they can divide the international community, the people for entering visa I mean to enter any country should be judged by the own individual values not with the parents’ values such as for example if your father is an Iranian or if your father is a Syrian you don’t allow] to come to my country except to go the long procedure of the visa bureaucracy.

This is totally wrong and I think it will not…, it is a very bad feedback, as I said, to the real sponsor of terrorists, to the terrorists themselves. You cannot find any Iranian in jails such as Guantanamo, such as the Paris accident. Iranians from many years ago, I mean even before the history of United States did not participate in any terror, any attack of any country and shouldn’t put in the list of those who are, even are not terrorist country, for example, we are talking about Syria. Syria is challenging with 60 countries who are focusing, who are dealing in this country, I mean Sudan, Iraq, who is our neighbor and also have lots of problem, but why Iran should be in the list? Why millions of Iranians should be punished, thousands of Europeans who visited Iran, thousand of Iranians who would like to come back to their own... country? This is totally anti-international law and totally anti-peace procedure and peace-oriented solutions in our region in the Middle East.

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