Tehran: Munich conference held in the name of security to charm warmongers

Iran has blasted the organizers of the 2023 Munich Security Conference for not giving an equal chance to all members of the international community to present their views, saying the event took place under the slogan of security but actually promoted war.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani said during a presser on Monday that the Munich conference this year hosted some anti-Iran figures instead of the Iranian government.

He said the organizers of the annual event made “a grave mistake” and “damaged the conference’s credulity” as they sought unilateralism in the international order by preventing the expression of different views, especially those that are opposed to the US government.

“The Islamic Republic is one of the most important countries with an undisputed role in deepening and consolidating regional security, and it is among effective countries that helps reinforce international security,” he added.

“The conference was held in the name of security, but it did not invite important countries such as the Islamic Republic [of Iran] and Russia. It means that the conference has given the opportunity, which could be used to raise different multilateral views regarding international order and security, to parties and currents that sought to consolidate unilateralism in the international arena.”

Kan’ani noted that Iran has contributed a lot to security in the region and Europe by fighting terrorist groups such as Daesh.

“We believe that this year, the conference was organized in the name of security, but for the sake of war and warmongers,” he said.

Anti-war protesters rally in Munich as Western leaders attend summit

Anti-war and pro-Ukraine demonstrations took place in Munich.

Kan’ani urges IAEA to ‘behave professionally’

Elsewhere in his comments, Kan’ani reiterated Iran’s commitment to technical cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressing hope that the UN nuclear watchdog will in turn behave professionally toward the country’s peaceful nuclear activities.

“The Islamic Republic’s technical cooperation with the IAEA is an important principle for our country. In turn, we expect the agency to behave professionally toward Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities and adhere to the principles and frameworks of professional and specialized cooperation with member states, including the Islamic Republic,” he said.

Kan’ani also highlighted Iran’s adherence to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the safeguards agreements.

On Sunday, a report by Bloomberg claimed that Iran has enriched uranium to a purity of 84 percent. The spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi categorically rejected the report, saying the country’s nuclear facilities have never enriched uranium above 60 percent.

“Raising such issues through the media, while they should normally be discussed in technical and specialized contacts and in bilateral meetings, shows that the agency is distancing from its professional behavior and specialized position,” Kan’ani said.

‘Israel addicted to making accusations’

The spokesman categorically rejected Israel’s accusation against Iran over a reported attack on an oil tanker.

“Like the US, the Zionist regime is used to making accusations against the Islamic Republic. Iran is among effective countries in maintaining the security and freedom of navigation in international waters and continues its efforts” in this regard, he said.

“A regime that endangers the security of others … and throughout its disgraceful history has played a pervasive, destabilizing role in the region and the international arena has no right to accuse others.”

Iran, US holding indirect talks on prisoners swap

Kan’ani also confirmed indirect Tehran-Washington talks, with Qatar playing an intermediary role, to exchange prisoners.

The prisoners swap “was in progress, but it was not carried out due to the United States’ bad faith. Most of the prisoners were arrested for circumventing sanctions. We thank the Qatari government for its role and it is being done by resolving the technical issues,” he explained.

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