E3 seeking to settle ‘political score’ with Iran: Acting FM
Speaking in an interview with Russia’s RT news channel on the sidelines of a two-day meeting of foreign ministers of the BRICS group of countries in the central Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod on Tuesday, Iran’s Interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani censured a recent move by Britain, France and Germany to have spearheaded a resolution against Tehran at the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Accusing the Islamic Republic of withholding sufficient cooperation with the agency, the 35-nation BoG passed the resolution with 20 in favor and two against with 12 abstentions during its meeting on June 5.
“Since about two years ago, the Europeans have not taken any positive action in the field of negotiations. Certainly, the move by the three European countries is one of their deceitful actions and while they show no seriousness and will to pursue the negotiations, they unjustly accuse Iran of evading and violating its commitments,” Bagheri Kani said.
The top Iranian diplomat stressed that the three European countries had turned the IAEA into a venue to settle “their own political score” with Iran, which he said “will definitely be of no avail.”
Elsewhere in his interview with RT, Bagheri Kani said bilateral cooperation between Iran and Russia results in the consolidation of stability and security in the region and across the world.
“Relations between Iran and Russia ... are historical. The relations between Iran and Russia have developed and expanded in all aspects. Of course, it is natural that the more serious threats Iran and Russia face, the greater their solidarity will be to face common challenges and threats,” he said.
Bagheri Kani also underlined that the two strategic partners are simultaneously working within the framework of multilateralism by their active participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS group.