Iranian Speaker: Visa Ban Proof of US Gov’t Absurdity
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani denounced a recent move by the US government to ban all immigrants and visa holders from seven countries, including Iran, from entering the US for 90 days, as a sign of US administration’s “absurdity”.
“The recent measure taken by the US government to revoke the visas (of Iranians) showed the absurdity in their behavior and vision,” Larijani said, addressing an open session of the parliament on Sunday morning.
He added that the move also demonstrated the violent and racist nature of the US government, which has been hidden behind the deceitful appearance of an advocate of democracy and human rights.
The parliament speaker further said the US move to put Iran on the list of the seven countries and its stated concerns about terror acts seem “like a joke”, stressing that the Islamic Republic was the one that stood up against terrorists single-handedly before other countries joined the anti-terrorism campaign.
The new order US President Donald Trump signed on Friday bars all persons from seven countries from entering the US for 90 days and suspends the US Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days. The countries impacted are Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.
Trump’s order will also cancel the Visa Interview Waiver Program, which once allowed repeat travelers to the United States to be able to forgo an in-person interview to renew their visa. Under the new order, these travelers will now have to have in-person interviews.
In comments on Saturday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said today’s world would not tolerate separating peoples.
There is no room for separation of nations in the present era, the Iranian president explained, saying people of the world have turned into neighbors due to cultural, scientific and civilizational globalization.
He further highlighted the long history of peaceful coexistence among various Iranian religions, ethnicities, cultures and races, stressing that Iran has never been familiar with racial prejudice.
