Ukraine War, UNSCR 2231 Unrelated: Iran
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman condemned the fresh sanctions that the EU and the UK have imposed on Tehran on the unfounded pretext that Iranian drones have been used in the Ukraine war, which he said is totally unrelated to the UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
In comments on Saturday, Nasser Kanaani strongly condemned the decisions by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union and the British government to impose new sanctions against Iran under the “bogus and baseless pretext” that Iranian drones have been employed in the Ukraine war, rejecting the claims raised in a joint statement from France, the UK and Germany.
Refuting the groundless allegations on the delivery of Iranian drones for use in the Ukraine war, the spokesman said, “We have always insisted that all United Nations member states should fully respect the goals and principles enshrined in the UN Charter and the international law, including the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the countries.”
Kanaani reiterated that Iran supports peace and an immediate end to the war in Ukraine through a political process.
Taking a swipe at the European troika for their “irresponsible, destructive and illegal measures” to create “a poisonous political atmosphere” against the Islamic Republic, the spokesperson said, “They are attempting to give a misleading interpretation on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 and make a connection between their baseless claims and the Resolution 2231.”
Kanaani underlined that the issues regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the UNSC Resolution 2231 are totally unrelated in subject and context.
Pointing to the European government’s deceptive policies, he added, “The great Iranian nation would never forget that certain European countries, which have raised claims against the Islamic Republic of Iran, are accomplices in Saddam Hussein’s crimes as they had sent him weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons, during the eight-year war he had imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
He noted that Iran still holds those European governments accountable for aiding and abetting Saddam Hussein in committing crimes against Iranians.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the ongoing provocative approaches taken by the European Union and the UK as part of a purposeful political scenario that runs counter to their hollow and hypocritical claims on contributing to sustainable peace and stability in the world,” he added.
Kanaani further denounced the European Union’s “destructive” moves in recent days, adding, “In order to protect the national interests and ensure the legitimate rights of the noble Iranian people, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to respond to any irresponsible action and would not hesitate about defending the Iranian nation’s interests.”
The statement came after an EU foreign ministerial session decided to levy sanctions against 11 Iranian individuals and four entities over the country's response to the riots that followed the death of a young Iranian woman in police custody.
The sanctions targeted a section of Iran’s police, the Basij volunteer forces and the cyber division of the country’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). The bloc also listed Iran's Minister of Communications and Information Technology Issa Zarepour for the internet shutdown. The coercive measures include travel bans and asset freezes.
