Parliament's measures will entail 'far-reaching changes': Iran FM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
22 Jan 2023 14:44

Iran's Foreign Minister says any countermeasure to the EP's anti-IRGC decision could be considered if European leaders "fail to rectify their stances."

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (IRNA)

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian hinted on Sunday that Iran would withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty in case Europeans do not change their stances against Iran.

In response to the European Parliament's decision to pass a resolution calling on the European Union to classify Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist" organization, Amir-Abdollahian revealed that the Iranian Parliament's measure "that binds the government to designate the armies of the European countries as terrorist is a countermeasure."

He noted that the Parliament's measures will entail "far-reaching changes and significant impacts on the military formation of the military forces in the region."

Regarding his phone call with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, Amir-Abdollahian explained that the resolution is not binding and represents the views of a part of the European Parliament members.

Responding to a question about whether Iran's withdrawal from the NPT would be a possible countermeasure, the Iranian Foreign Minister considered that if European leaders "do not take the path to rationality and fail to rectify their stances, any possibility could be considered.”

In the same context, the top Iranian diplomat indicated that the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) plans to reciprocate the European Parliament's decision by placing the armies of European countries on Iran’s terrorism list.

"The European Parliament shot itself in the foot. The answer is mutual," Amir-Abdollahian tweeted.

امروز در جلسه غیرعلنی مجلس شورای اسلامی حضور یافتم.نمایندگان در حضور سردار سلامی از تلاش این نهاد حاکمیتی برای حفظ امنیت ملی قدردانی کردند. مجلس در اقدامی متقابل در صدد قرار دادن عناصر ارتش کشورهای اروپا در لیست تروریستی است. پارلمان اروپایی به پای خود شلیک کرد.پاسخ ، متقابل است.
— H.Amirabdollahian امیرعبداللهیان (@Amirabdolahian) January 22, 2023

Iran to designate EU armies terrorist if anti-IRGC resolution passes

Earlier, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf underlined that Iran will designate European armies as terrorists in response to the European Parliament's decision.

During an open parliament session, Qalibaf condemned the European Parliament's decision and considered it showed that the pro-Zionist front has caused European countries to commit serious miscalculations.

The Iranian Parliament Speaker stressed that his country will use its tools to counter such decisions, adding that European countries have taken the wrong way against Iran's interests.

Qalibaf noted that the IRGC and regional people have overthrown the US-backed ISIS terrorist group, highlighting that the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps is the most unique anti-terrorist organization in the world that eliminated ISIS' global threat.

Elsewhere, the Iranian official condemned the European countries' sponsoring of media terrorism against Iran during the recent riots in the country.

Any anti-IRGC moves are doomed to failure: Raisi

In the same context, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Sunday that the IRGC plays a key role in combating the terrorists.

The Iranian President stressed that any anti-IRGC moves are doomed to failure, noting that no armed forces have combatted terrorists like the IRGC did and still does.

Raisi considered that the region would have witnessed a different situation if the IRGC and martyr General Qassem Soleimani were not on the scene.

On Friday, a member of the Iranian parliament's presidium, Ahmad Naderi, also warned that the Iranian parliament will enforce legislative amendments that would recognize the armed forces of EU member states under the category of terrorist organizations if the EU proceeds to place the IRGC on its "terror list".