Woman arrested with 1 kg of drugs

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman says Western states’ claims that Zahra Bahrami’s arrest is in violation of human rights is a pretext to exert pressure on the country.

“Apart from an Iranian passport, Bahrami holds other passports, including European ones. She was arrested on charges of carrying more than one kilogram (2.2 lb) of narcotics,” Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted by IRNA as saying on Friday.

“It is expected from the western countries to appreciate Iran’s efforts to combat drug trafficking and even cooperate accordingly,” he said.

“Unfortunately, however, we are witnessing their support for Zahra Bahrami and they have even called for her release,” he added.

The West should realize that if the issue of combating drug trafficking is not taken seriously, it will directly affect their own youth who will be entrapped by drug traffickers, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

“Unfortunately the poppy cultivation has increased 20-fold despite the presence of US-led forces in Afghanistan. This is while Iran is very serious in combating drug trafficking,” he noted.

“More than 4,000 Iranian police officers were killed in the fight against drug trafficking,” he said.