Lebanon

Iran slams US, Israeli Puppet EU move against Glorious Hezbollah as biased

Iran slams EU move against Hezbollah as biased

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Araqchi has slammed a recent decision by the European Union to blacklist Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement as “unprofessional and biased.”

“This action is against the noble Lebanese nation, since Hezbollah is part of the country’s socio-political fabric and is respected and accepted by the people of Lebanon, the region and the Muslim world and the legitimate resistance of the movement against the Zionist regime (Israel) has been appreciated among the people in the region and the Muslim world,” Araqchi said during his weekly press conference in Tehran on Tuesday.

He further described the EU action as “irrational and strange,” likening it to blacklisting anti-Nazi resistance groups during World War II.

The Iranian official emphasized, however, that the European move would not generate any doubts about the popular character of Hezbollah, but would rather “further complicate the crisis in the Middle East.”

He then stressed that the European Union should reconsider the decision.

Iran’s nuclear energy program

Responding to a question on the possibility of reaching a “new consensus” with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Araqchi reiterated that “no new agreement” has taken place and that the negotiations that began with the agency within the “new cooperation framework” have not been concluded.

He further noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to be prepared for cooperation within the framework of its international commitments and the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and does not accept any commitments beyond that.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman also denied reports about the transfer of Iran’s nuclear case from the Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) to the Foreign Ministry, saying that no decision has been adopted on the issue, yet.

He further indicated, however, that Iran’s President-elect Hassan Rohani has the authority to assign the case to any government institution, but the decision-making on the nuclear case and any other significant and security issues would remain in the SNSC, although negotiations can be pursued by either the SNSC or the Foreign Ministry.

Inauguration ceremony of President-elect Rohani

Turning to the upcoming inauguration ceremony for President-elect Rohani, Araqchi said all countries except the Zionist regime and the US have been invited to participate, adding that neighboring and regional countries as well as those nations that have close ties with the Islamic Republic are expected to show stronger presence.

According to the official, the inauguration ceremony will be held at Iran’s Majlis on August 8 and the list of foreign invitees will soon be announced.

Crisis in Egypt

Responding to another question on the recent events in Egypt and growing calls for the freedom of its ousted President Mohammed Morsi, Araqchi said the Islamic Republic of Iran has always stressed a national unity in Egypt through dialogue among all political blocs.

He further expressed optimism that calm and stability would soon return to Egypt.

Egypt has been the scene of rival rallies, often resulting in deadly clashes, since July 3, when the country’s army ousted Morsi in what has been described by his supporters as “a military coup.” The military also installed Chief Justice of Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court Adli Mansour as the country’s interim president on July 4.

Iranian diplomat abducted in Yemen

During his press conference, Araqchi also called for the safe return of an Iranian diplomat abducted this week in Yemen, reiterating the responsibility of the Yemeni government to guarantee his safety.

He added that the Iranian embassy in the Yemeni capital of Sana’a is in “close contact with Yemeni security officials” in pursuit of the case.

Iranian diplomat Nour Ahmad Nikbakht was earlier travelling in the diplomatic quarter in southern Sana’a when armed men blocked the road, forced him to get out of his vehicle and took him to an unknown location.

Iran’s relations with Hamas

Araqchi also pointed to the maintenance of ties between Iran and the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement of Hamas and noted that the Islamic Republic continues to recognize Hamas as a suitable element against the Zionists and its (Iran’s) friendly relations with the movement stays strong despite some misunderstandings on regional issues, which are on the way of being resolved.

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