Foreign Ministry Hits Back at Trump for Anti-Iran Comments

“Terrorism in the Middle East and West Asia is the result… of the wrong policies of the US and a number of its main allies over the past years and decades in the region, which, on the basis of the policy of instrumental use of terrorism, have pursued their strategies such as creation of al-Qaeda and Daesh and other extremist and terrorist groups, and have imposed crises, tensions and eroding instability on the region,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Trump is falsely accusing Iran of sponsoring terrorism while everybody acknowledges that Iran, as the biggest victim of terrorism in the past several decades, is spending huge financial and spiritual costs and has been and will be in a relentless and genuine fight against such ominous phenomenon (terrorism), in the same way that it has played a leading and undeniable role in the defeat of Daesh in Iraq and Syria,” the spokesman added.

Qassemi further highlighted the freedom of religious minorities, including Jewish people, in Iran and pointed to their representatives in the Iranian Parliament, noting, “While the Second Word War has finished decades ago, certain Western countries still feel indebted to Zionists, but Iranians in Persia have been the birthplace and cradle of patience, peaceful co-existence and ethnic and religious diversity throughout the history.”

“Judaism, like the other Abrahamic religions, has been always revered by the Islamic Republic of Iran and has a premium position according to the (Iranian) Constitution. But one could not, and should not, deny the fact that what has sadly disgraced the true followers of Judaism has been the inhumane and criminal activities and measures of the Zionist regime, which has damaged the image and position of Jews in the world in the name of Judaism,” the spokesperson deplored.

Qassemi finally pointed to Iran’s readiness to celebrate the 40th anniversary of victory of the Islamic Revolution, adding, “Over the past four decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran has held elections more than any other country in the region, including the US close allies and partners which are ruled by dictatorial and authoritarian regimes.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran undoubtedly arises from a popular revolution and is founded upon a democratic administration and election. The bogus, dreamlike and illogical allegations raised by the US president against the Islamic Republic of Iran’s people and government could not whitewash the image of the US and the dictatorial regimes that promote violence and extremism and benefit from the US rulers in the killing of the region’s oppressed people,” he concluded.