Iran to EU Parliament: Human Rights Are Not an Instrument

Ebrahim Azizi, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran's Parliament, chided the EU Parliament's statement on human rights in Iran, stressing that "no one has the right to interfere in our internal politics, under any pretense."

Azizi said: "Everyone has noticed the EU's double standards on various subjects. They raise the banner of human rights but violate them in their own countries." He noted that the EU "has made claims on increasing cooperation with Iran, especially with regards to the nuclear deal, over the past years. However, they have broken their promises, and violated their commitments." 

Iran has also asked the EU Parliament to "stop using human rights as an instrument and adopt a balanced and logical approach" when dealing with it.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Said Khatibzadeh said during the weekly press conference, in response to the EU Parliament's latest resolution regarding "human rights in Iran," that he strongly condemns the EU Parliament's resolution as it lacks credibility, authenticity, and is "clear evidence of interference in Iran's internal affairs."

Khatibzadeh said he was sorry that the EU Parliament, which "claims to defend Iranian human rights," has always stood silent against the "massacre of innocent people in Yemen and Palestine."

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif demanded the EU on Monday to clarify their position on the support of some European politicians and officials of the terrorist MEK (People's Mujahideen of Iran) group.