Continued Iranophobia to ‘significantly’ affect mutual interests, Iran warns EU

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned a new round of sanctions imposed by the block on the country over alleged human rights violations and drone deliveries to Russia, warning that persistent Iranophobia campaigns would affect mutual cooperation and interests.

The Iranian ministry issued an 11-article statement on Thursday in reaction to the latest sanctions which were imposed by EU’s foreign ministers on Monday.

The statement expressed “strong protest” against the imposition of “unacceptable and baseless” sanctions by the European Union, noting, “The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that dialogue with the EU and its members are possible through mutual respect, trust, and interests.”

“Accordingly, we have left the doors of dialogue open but meanwhile, we do not stop expressing our demands and criticisms. Naturally, the opportunities to promote mutual interests will be significantly affected if the media hype that is being followed in the framework of Iranophobia is not stopped,” it read.

According to a statement issued by the EU foreign ministers, 20 individuals along with one entity -- the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting -- have been sanctioned over alleged human rights abuses, while four more people and as many entities blacklisted over the issue of drones. The bloc's new sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans to the EU.

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Foreign-backed riots have hit various Iranian provinces since 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini died at the hospital on September 16, three days after she collapsed at a police station. An investigation has attributed Amini’s death to her medical condition, rather than alleged beatings by the police.

The violent riots, meanwhile, have claimed the lives of dozens of people and security forces, while also allowing terrorist attacks across the country. In the last two months, the terrorists have set fire to public property and tortured several Basij members and security forces to death.

The new sanctions came after Iran imposed a round of sanctions on dozens of the EU and British officials and entities over their support and instigation of recent deadly riots in the country and their meddlesome statements about the Islamic Republic’s internal developments and support for terror in Iran.

Organized political campaigns against Iran

The Thursday statement further noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran has been “steadfast” in supporting and promoting human rights despite campaigns waged by some governments to defame the country.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran by no means accepts the fabricated agendas, which are part of an organized political campaign to put maximum pressure on a thriving government and nation which are resisting two simultaneous challenges, namely international isolation and the US’s economic warfare,” it stressed.

The statement slammed in “strongest terms” the exploitation of international mechanism, be it in the UN Human Right Council or meetings of EU foreign ministers.

It noted that Iran’s police and security forces have acted to contain the violence according to “precise and defined” regulations which are based on laws and religious teachings and respect for the rights of individuals.

According to the latest figures, more than 50 Iranian security forces have lost their lives during recent riots.

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‘West using human rights as a political tool’

The issue of human rights has become a tool for pursuing the “political goals” of some European and American governments, the ministry added.

The statement reminded the West of its “brazen double standards” with regard to its allies such as the Israeli regime that is flagrantly violating human rights in the occupied territories of Palestine.

These countries are "morally disqualified" to preach others about human rights, it stressed, adding that according to a UN report, Western countries have violated human rights because of following the illegal and inhumane American sanctions against Iranian people and hence, should be held accountable.

European countries have complied with unilateral sanctions imposed by the US since 2018 against Iran. These sanctions have basically targeted civilians as they have, for instance, restricted Iran’s access to medicine and medical equipment.

‘West obliged to confront terrorism, hatred’

Citing UN General Assembly resolutions A/RES/60/288, and A/RES/2625, the ministry noted that “Western countries are obliged to confront violence, hatred, terrorism, offenses, and riots of individuals in their territories.”

These states do not want to or cannot adhere to their international commitments under these resolutions, the statement said.

The Islamic Republic of Iran does not tolerate activities of those individuals or institutes that are involved in the promotion of terrorism and violence and will use “all its legal and judiciary capacities at the national and international levels” to secure the rights of the Iranian people, it added.

Intelligence reports have pointed to the leading role of terrorist groups such as Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO), which is hosted by Albania, and London-based media such as Iran International in inciting violence during recent riots inside Iran.

On JCPOA and IAEA

Elsewhere, the statement referred to the stalled talks on the removal of the US sanctions and revival of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA), noting that Iran’s demands fall within the framework of Vienna talks.

The “long list of blatant violations” of the JCPOA by Europeans and the US leaves no other choice for Iran but to “be realistic” for the future, it maintained.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran aims to clinch a lasting and stable agreement that firstly guarantees Iran’s benefits from the removal of sanctions and secondly, cannot be easily violated under the influence of internal policies of governments.”

Tehran is ready to conclude the talks based on a draft that has been earlier obtained after months-long negotiations in Vienna, the statement said, adding that it is the Western side that is “confused” given its adoption of “unrealistic and miscalculated” policies.

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The talks have remained stalled since August, as Washington continues to insist on its hard-nosed position of not removing all sanctions that were slapped on the Islamic Republic by the previous US administration. 

The Foreign Ministry also noted that as a member of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Iran has always cooperated with the International Atomic Energy Agency according to its international commitments and is "determined" to maintain this cooperation.

It also advised the Western states “not to politicize” the case and “disturb technical cooperation” between Iran and the IAEA.

‘No drone delivered for Ukraine war’

Iran’s Foreign Ministry also reiterated the country’s “principled stance” on the Ukrainian crisis which has always been “supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the need to end the conflict through political solutions.”

It once again rejected the Western media’s reports of drone delivery to Russia, noting that “Iran has not offered any drone to any side for using in the Ukraine war.”

Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that drone allegations are aimed at legitimizing the West's military assistance to Kiev.

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The statement further noted that governments of the US, the UK, and France have “knowingly” provided the Saudi-led coalition with lethal arms which according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights have been used in attacks against civilians.

These arms, provided by Western states, have played a major role in war crimes in Yemen, it stressed.

Iran’s defense capabilities non-negotiable

Iran has never waged war on its neighbors, but has been the target of attacks, the ministry added in another article of the statement.

The 8-year war with former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s regime, which enjoyed the “all-out” support of some countries in Europe and West Asia as well as the US, turned the “development of defense capabilities” into a necessity for Iran and this “will never be negotiable,” it added.  

“Iran is committed to endogenous and inclusive security, stability, and welfare of the region,” it added.

Iran has extended hand of brotherhood to all its neighbors as bilateral cooperation with neighbors have increased in the past one and a half year, noted the ministry.

Regional stability and security will be guaranteed only by the cooperation of regional states, the statement stressed. 

Iran will continue the policy of neighborliness with the aim of arriving at collective security in the region, said the statement, adding that “baseless accusations” will not hamper Tehran’s efforts on this path.

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