“The excuse-making strategies of the US and the implementation of new sanctions against Iran under the pretext of Iran’s missile program are unacceptable,” said Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for legal and international Affairs Seyed Abbas Araghchi while addressing a gathering of Japanese experts and academicians at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation in Tokyo.
Mr. Araghchi delivered a lecture, titled Iran's New Role in the Middle East at the venue of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation during his journey to the Asian far-eastern country, Japan.
“The missile program of the Islamic Republic of Iran which is an outcome of the capabilities of the Iranians is merely defensive and for the sake of deterrence,” reassured the senior diplomat.
He stressed that refuting the JCPOA will have dire consequences for the violating parties of the deal and Iran is fully ready for the occurrence of such a thing.
Elaborating on the latest development in the Middle East and the role of Iran in the region, Iran's deputy FM asserted that Iran is one of the most stable and safest countries of the region which, contrary to other countries of the region, derives its power and capability from its people.
In addition to offering gratitude to the Sasakawa Peace Foundation for inviting him as a lecturer, Mr. Araghchi touched upon the latest status of the Middle East and the challenges ahead of the region.
Poverty, economic inequality, non-democratic and oppressive regimes, extremisms and terrorism, and most specifically the chronicle crisis of Palestine and the crack-downs of the Zionist regime, were the challenges ahead of the ME recounted by the Iranian diplomat.
Referring to numerous players in the region, Mr. Araghchi underlined that the role of Iran in the region as a powerful and effective player in the Middle East is known to everybody. He pointed out to the 12th edition of Iran’s Presidential election held in May and boasted the number of people who turned out to vote, 73 percent of the eligible voters, as a demonstration of Iran’s power and as an exception in the countries of the region.
“The Takfirist terrorism is the main challenge of the region at the current stage and its consequences pose threats not only on the region but also on the whole world,” reiterated the Iranian diplomat, “countering this threat requires an international consensus with cooperation of all countries.”
Later he touched upon the JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) and its numerous international and regional aspects.
“The JCPOA enjoys a powerful status in the international arena, and is supported not only by UN resolution 2231 but also by the European Union and the international community,” the Iranian diplomat recounted the nuclear and economic aspects of the deal and the economic prosperity yielded in the last year and a half after the implementation of the agreement.
“These relations have always been friendly and for the benefits of the two countries with reciprocal appreciation and respect,” said the Iranian diplomat about the ties between Tehran and Tokyo.
“In the post-sanctions era, the economic cooperation between Iran and Japan has witnessed an upward trend,” confirmed Mr. Araghchi, “and it is expected to have a speedier trend in the future to enhance and develop the relations the more and the potentials of the two countries be utilized in a more constructive and efficient trajectory.”
YNG/IRN82627696
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