AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi categorically denounced a statement recently issued by a European Union spokesperson, describing the move as a case of interference in Tehran's domestic affairs.
Mousavi said on Thursday instead of defending those committing acts of anarchy and rioting across Iran, Europe has to answer for going back on the promises it has made to the Iranian people.
His remarks came after a meddlesome statement by a European Union spokesperson, which the Iranian official described as an instance of interference in Iran’s internal affairs.
“What should be noted concerning Iran in the first place is Europe’s accountability for its lack of commitment and refusal to uphold its nuclear obligations [towards the country], as well as its joining the United States in acts of bullying through the sanctions and economic terrorism, which Washington has employed against the Iranian people,” he said.
However, instead of minding its obligations vis-à-vis Tehran, Europe resorts to intrusive remarks and “crying crocodile tears in defense of hooligans and those destroying public and private property and facilities in Iran.”
The US returned the sanctions against Iran after illegally and unilaterally leaving a multi-party nuclear agreement with Tehran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), last year. The JCPOA’s European deal partners then bowed under Washington’s pressure by toeing its sanction line and refusing to uphold Tehran’s business interests as they are contractually obliged.
European Union’s Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Maja Kocijancic accused the Islamic Republic in a statement earlier on Thursday of addressing “socio-economic challenges” through “the use of violence…and not through inclusive dialogue.”
Mousavi also advised European countries to rather address their own predicaments and remedy extensive dissatisfaction among their own people, which are reflected in various forms across the continent every week, and have been followed by widespread fatalities and sweeping arrests.
Riots by a small number who had taken advantage of legitimate public protests against the government's gas price hike plan in Iran were directed at sowing chaos through targeted attacks on public and private properties, forcing law enforcement to step in to stop saboteurs.
Early estimates of an intelligence body showed that a sum of nearly 87,000 protesters and rioters had taken part in protest rallies and gatherings since Friday night, mostly (over 93%) men. A large number of protesters had only been present in the gathering centers and avoided joining the rioters in sabotage attacks on public and private properties.
"The identical methods of the main core of violent rioters discloses that they are fully trained individuals who have been prepared and looking forward for the situation to rise, unlike most people who have been taken off guard by the sudden hike in gas price," the report said.
The report showed that gatherings have been comprised of 50 to 1,500 people held in 100 regions of the country out of a number of 1,080 major towns and cities. The report says violent raids and damage inflicted on properties has been larger than what happened in February 2018 unrests.
Most cases of damage to properties had happened in Khuzestan, Tehran, Fars and Kerman provinces. The report says most casualties have resulted from armed outlaws' attacks on oil storage and military centers, adding that a number of police and popular forces have been martyred in these attacks.
Nearly 1,000 people were arrested across the country while over 100 banks and 57 big stores were set on fire or plundered in just one province.
The Iranian intelligence ministry announced in a statement on Sunday that it had identified several rioters who misused the recent protest rallies against the gasoline price hikes to destroy public and private properties.
"The main culprits behind the riots in the past two days have been identified and proper measures are being adopted and the honorable nation will be informed about its result later," the statement said.
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22 November 2019 - 12:38
News ID: 988506
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi categorically denounced a statement recently issued by a European Union spokesperson, describing the move as a case of interference in Tehran's domestic affairs.
