Iran’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs tells ambassadors in Tehran

unilateral sanctions biggest systemic violation of human rights in world

Iran’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs tells ambassadors in Tehran unilateral sanctions biggest systemic violation of human rights in world

Ambassadors and heads of political missions to Tehran took part in a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the recent terrorist attack in Shah Cheragh Shrine in Shiraz and the developments in the past several weeks on Wednesday, November 2, 2022.

In the meeting, where Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri and Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Reza Najafi were present, Bagheri said, “The terrorist attack in Shiraz is another testament to the righteousness of our path, which is incessant perseverance against violent extremism and the terrorism of Daesh in the region.”

He added, “This terrorist attack showed how indebted we, the region, and the world are to the venerated martyr, Lieutenant General Soleimani, who proved that he was the most serious force against the terrorism of Daesh.”
He pointed to the shining record of the Islamic Republic of Iran in fighting terrorism and said, “The Shiraz terrorist attack, which took the lives of 15 innocent people, including women and children, will further strengthen the Islamic Republic of Iran’s resolve to fight terrorism.”

He emphasized the duality of the West’s approach to terrorism, and said, “Some Western countries failed to express their resentment at this terrorist attack, and even refused to condemn the terrorist attack, even if verbally. They didn’t even extend their sympathy to the child who lost his father, mother, and brother in this act of terror.”

The Iranian deputy foreign minister for political affairs pointed to the extensive and unprecedented dissemination of lies and publication of misinformation about the developments in Iran by hostile media, which are supported by some Western countries, over the past weeks, and said, “The violence and disorder that was imposed on the peaceful gatherings of our citizens as a result of the provocative interference and obfuscation of some divisive media that are based in some Western countries, took the lives of innocent people, including 30 policemen, and damaged and burnt hundreds of public and private properties. Even ambulances and firetrucks were not spared the violence.”

Referring to the aggressive, unilateral actions of the United States, including illegal sanctions, Bagheri said, “Cruel sanctions are the biggest project of systematically violating human rights in the world. America is the project manager, and many Western countries are agents and implementers.”

The Iranian deputy foreign minister for political affairs said, “Have you ever asked yourself that, while you have heard the name of Iranian woman ‘Mahsa Amini’ over and over again in remarks by Western officials and Western media reports in the course of the past couple of weeks, you have never heard the name of ‘Zahra Papi,’ a 10-year-old native of Lorestan, and ‘Amir-Hossein Narooyi,’ a 10-year-old from Zabol, and dozens of other children suffering from rare diseases who have been killed because of cruel, unilateral sanctions and lack of access to necessary medication? The answer is clear! Those imposing the sanctions are not ready to acknowledge the crimes that result from sanctions, let alone hype it up in the media and on the political level.”

Reza Najafi, deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, thanked all countries that had condemned the cowardly terrorist attack in Shah Cheragh Shrine in Shiraz and had sympathized with the government and nation of Iran, and stressed that all countries needed to fight terrorism.

Criticizing the dual approach of Western governments toward human rights at international organizations and forums, Najafi emphasized the Islamic Republic of Iran’s unflinching determination to respect and promote human rights, including the right to peaceful assembly.

He also condemned the act of resorting to aggressive, unilateral measures and any form of interference in the internal affairs of countries.

In the meeting, Mrs. Karimi, the director general of international affairs at the Vice Presidency for Women and Family Affairs, explained the latest achievements by women in the Islamic Republic of Iran in the different fields of science, society, culture, and sports, and displayed to the invitees statistics on some of the progress and accomplishments.

The meeting was meant to clarify the dimensions of the Daesh terrorist attack in Shiraz and the developments in the past several weeks in Iran and to offer a correct and reality-based narrative for the diplomatic community residing in Iran.

Most embassies and international missions in Tehran participated in the meeting, which was held in two parts, in the morning and evening, at the level of ambassadors and senior diplomats.

Commenting on the sanctions removal talks, Bagheri said, “Over the past days, we have submitted initiatives to the coordinator of the negotiations with the goal of advancing and concluding the Vienna talks, and we hope that these initiative will pave the way for new activities with regards to the talks.”

He also touched on interactions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on addressing the claims about Iran’s Safeguards commitments, saying, “As per the agreement reached, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s technical delegation will be sent to Vienna in the coming days for talks with the Agency’s authorities about this matter.”