UN chief tool in Washington’s hands: Velayati

A top Iranian official says Ban Ki-moon has been the most powerless UN head since the body was founded in 1945, describing him as a tool in Washington’s hands.

“Ban Ki-Moon is an individual who is completely controlled by the Americans and Americans tell Ban Ki-Moon whatever they want to express from the UN podium and he speaks for them,” said Ali Akbar Velayati, director of the Strategic Research Center of Iran’s Expediency Council on Wednesday.

Velayati’s comments come after Ban accused Iranian President Hassan Rouhani of failing to make any significant improvements in the promotion and protection of freedom of speech.

In a Tuesday report to the UN Human Rights Council, Ban Ki-moon highlighted the use of capital punishment for serious drug offences in Iran.

“The new administration has not made any significant improvement in the promotion and protection of freedom of expression and opinion despite pledges made by the president during his campaign and after his swearing in,” Ban said.

Velayati said Ban makes selective and politically-motivated remarks about global issues.

He says the UN chief has done “nothing effective” so far to resolve even one crisis in the Muslim world because of his “lack of independence”.

The US has frequently been criticized by other countries for using human rights issues as political leverage against nations it considers adversaries.