Iran UN Envoy Hits Back at US Counterpart for ‘Baseless’ Allegations
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations Gholam Ali Khoshroo hit back at his US counterpart Nikki Haley for “distorting” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s recent comments on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and for leveling groundless accusations against Tehran.
“The US ambassador (to the UN) had better consider lessons from history instead of distorting the Iranian president’s remarks and give advice to some top US government officials and ask them to avoid the repetition of past mistakes,” Mr. Khoshroo said on Friday.
He made the comments in response to Haley, who has interpreted President Rouhani’s recent remarks about the failure of the US policy of imposing sanctions as Iran’s threat to quit the JCPOA, a nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).
On August 15, the Iranian president said if the US government decides to repeat the failed experience of imposing sanctions on Iran, Tehran can immediately acquire capabilities in its nuclear industry that would be much more advanced than those prior to the JCPOA negotiations.
Thereafter, Haley accused President Rouhani of threatening that Iran would break its commitments under the JCPOA. “Iran cannot be allowed to use the nuclear deal to hold the world hostage… we must also continue to hold Iran responsible for its missile launches, support for terrorism, disregard for human rights, and violations of UN Security Council resolutions,” she said.
Elsewhere in his comments, the Iranian UN envoy slammed such US rhetoric and groundless anti-Iran accusations as “the latest example of provocative comments, blatant threats and irresponsible actions by some senior officials of the US administration in demonizing Iran and undermining the JCPOA that are inconsistent with the US commitments under article 28 of the nuclear deal.”
“Those who attempt to revert to the language of sanctions and threats are prisoners of their past delusions,” Khoshroo added, reminding the US that resorting to fear-mongering and antagonizing the others would only deprive it of the benefits of peace.
“The US mistakes and military interventions in the Middle East over the past two decades have destabilized the region and have fueled violent extremism, terrorism and tensions,” the ambassador deplored.
“Iran, as a stabilizing force in the region, is acting responsibly in eradicating Daesh (also known as ISIS) in Syria and Iraq and remains determined to seek a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Middle East free from extremism, terrorism, extra-regional interventions and weapons of mass destruction. Iran stands ready to continue cooperation with the regional states to achieve the shared goals and to address the existing regional challenges,” Khoshroo concluded, according to the Foreign Ministry’s official website.
