EU blindly following US by blacklisting Hezbollah: Larijani

Iran’s Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani has lashed out at the European Union (EU) for blacklisting the military wing of the Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah, saying the 28-member bloc is blindly following the policies of the United States.

He said on Wednesday that the members of Iran’s Majlis condemn the EU’s “political[ly motivated] heinous move.”

On July 22, under pressure from Washington and Israel, the EU foreign ministers unanimously decided to place Hezbollah’s military wing on the EU’s blacklist.

The Iranian Majlis speaker reiterated the Islamic Republic’s all-out support for the Lebanese movement and said the EU’s “shameful measure” comes as Hezbollah has constantly defended the Lebanese nation against the Zionist regime of Israel.

Larijani pointed to Hezbollah’s victory in the 33-day War with Israel in 2006, adding that such triumphs have been the source of concern for the West.

“In a ridiculous and reactionary measure, which indicates their apprehension,” the Western countries placed the military wing of Hezbollah on the list of terrorist groups, Larijani said.

This is while many terrorists, including the anti-Iran terrorist Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO), have been removed from the list of terrorist groups in the US and certain Western countries, he added.

In September 2012, the US formally removed the MKO from its list of terror organizations, a move followed by the Canadian government in December 2012.

The MKO fled to Iraq in 1986, where it received the support of Iraq’s executed dictator Saddam Hussein and established its camp near the Iranian border.