US, Europe use sanctions as illegal tool against Iran, says Kanaani

Tehran – Iran says the United States and its European allies have repeatedly used unilateral sanctions as “an illegal tool” against the Islamic Republic.

“Resorting to these sanctions is illegal and is a violation of the legal rights of the Iranian nation and is a violation of human rights,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said at a press conference in Tehran on Monday.

Kanaani was referring to sanctions imposed by the United States and its European allies – France, Britain, and Germany – on Iran throughout the years, especially after the US unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and employed a “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran.

“We believe that three European countries failed as much as the United States did in honoring the JCPOA obligations and should be held accountable,” he said.

He said despite their violations of the terms of the agreement, they go on to make unfounded accusations against Iran and impose illegal sanctions against the country.

“Iran reserves the right to show a proportionate, balanced and serious response,” he added.

Kanaani pointed to the recent meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), underscoring that certain Western states’ forming a so-called fact-finding committee is a measure by certain countries to politicize human rights issues and exploit international mechanisms in this respect, so Iran always considered the formation of a fact-finding committee illegitimate and does not recognize such a mechanism.

Based on its principles and perspectives, Iran dispatched a delegation to the meeting, headed by Secretary-General of the High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic Kazem Gharibabadi, with the aim of utilizing opportunities, Kanaani said, explaining that the Iranian delegation categorically rejected the committee’s report.

Kanaani also referred to the latest situation of ties between Iran and the US, stipulating that relations between countries are based on two principles of common interest and mutual respect, and the US has never established its behavior based on transactional behavior in dealing with Iran, and that it has always committed broad and gross violations of international laws as well as the treaty of friendship, which had been signed decades ago between the two nations.

The spokesman went on to say that the cases of human rights violations by the US against the Iranian people have also a long history, and as long as Washington does not seriously change its attitude and it pursues superiority and domination in dealing with the Iranian nation, putting forward the issue of reviewing the relationship between the two sides is meaningless.

In response to a question by IRNA’s reporter regarding the appointment of an ambassador to Libya in order to promote bilateral relations, Kanaani argued that Libya’s role and position in the Arab world is “completely unique.”

Considering the importance of Libya’s position, “the promotion of stability and security helped us gradually return relations to a normal path,” he said.

The ambassador of Libya in Tehran was introduced and submitted his credentials to Iran’s president, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

“Iran’s diplomatic delegation has also left for Tripoli and settled in the embassy. We are paving the way to create favorable conditions. Actually, our embassy in Libya has started to work.”

Source: IRNA

Raghda Sawas