Iran's Foreign Ministry Terms Closure of Canadian Embassy "Unjustified"

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Iranian Foreign Ministry in a statement strongly criticized the closure of Canada's embassy in Tehran, describing it as an "unjustified" and "hasty" move.
    
In a statement on Saturday evening, the ministry said that "in an unprofessional, unconventional and unjustified move and by misusing the concepts of the international law Canada has announced that it has closed its embassy in Tehran for imaginary reasons and asked for the closure of Iran's embassy in Canada within an irrational period".

The statement blasted the extremist policies of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's conservative government and its blind support for the racist Zionist regime of Israel, and noted that these policies did not help promotion of peace, and "have rather become a source of threat to international peace and security".

The statement pointed to Ottawa's efforts to undermine the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Tehran, and noted that the world leaders' lack of care for Canada's call for boycotting the summit meeting was another failure for Harper and his government.

"Thus, it seems that Canada had no way out but to hastily resort to such a cheap action in a bid to divert the public opinion form its failure and the success of the Islamic Republic of Iran's government."

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, at the Asia-Pacific summit in Vladivostok, Russia, announced that Ottawa has recalled its diplomats and suspended embassy operations in Iran.

Five Canadian diplomats left Iran on Friday and closed the embassy in a sudden move, suspending ties with Tehran.

The two sides already had low-level diplomatic ties that made it almost impossible for them to do useful work.

Ottawa is a staunch supporter of Israel, following a tough stand on Iran. It is said that the Canadian government plans to ratchet up measures against Tehran.

Three diplomats had left in recent weeks, and five flew out early on Friday. Hours later, Ottawa announced that Iran's diplomats have five days to leave Canada. 

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