Iran on Thursday condemned the recent sanctions imposed by the EU against 20 individuals and one entity linked to the violent crackdown on demonstrations over the death of young Mahsa Amini.
«The rights of women and all members of the Iranian nation have always been respected, such as women’s access to education, equal rights and respect for Human Rights,» the Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by Mehr news agency.
In this regard, it explained that it «does not accept false agendas organized as part of a political campaign» aimed at «exerting maximum pressure» on the country. It also rejected the «instrumental and selective» use of human rights as «tools to promote political interests».
Likewise, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has condemned the abuse of international processes both at the UN Human Rights Council and the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union, which issued a statement listing its reasons in the wake of the sanctions.
«These countries lack the moral authority to prescribe the observance of human rights to others,» he said, before noting that he «will not tolerate individuals and institutions that have been systematically involved in promoting violence and terrorism.»
With regard to the nuclear agreement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has advised Western countries «not to destroy the atmosphere of technical cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)».
«The long list of serious violations by the European and US parties during the implementation of the nuclear deal forces Iran to be realistic for the future,» it has indicated, adding that, despite this, the goal is to reach a «stable» agreement that guarantees the lifting of sanctions.
Finally, Tehran has again denied that it has supplied drones to Russia to be used in the war in Ukraine while recalling that several European governments have sent weapons that are used in the framework of the war in Yemen.
«The Islamic Republic of Iran, while strongly protesting the imposition of unacceptable and unfounded sanctions by the European Union, believes that interaction and dialogue with its members can only be achieved through respect, trust, mutual and common interests,» he concluded.
The statement comes after EU member states on Monday approved new sanctions against Tehran over its crackdown on peaceful protests and military support for Russia by supplying drones used by Moscow to attack civilian targets in Ukraine.
The new sanctions included 20 new individuals. In doing so, the EU expands already existing sanctions for fundamental rights violations, bringing the total number of people affected by the restrictions to 146 individuals and 15 entities.
