Mehmanparast made the remarks during his regular press briefing on Tuesday in reply to a question about the diplomatic efforts that Iran has made to pursue the issue of the assassination of Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, a graduate of Sharif university in chemical engineering and an official at the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, who was killed in Tehran on January 11.
Commenting on the assassination, he said, “The true faces of the self-proclaimed advocates of human rights and the campaign against terrorist are revealed in such scenes, and we are seeking to release documents showing certain Western countries’ support for terrorists.”
“We expect the self-proclaimed advocates of human rights and the campaign against terrorism to show how serious they are about dealing with terrorism and condemning it,” he added.
No authentic news received on arrests over assassination
Asked if he could confirm news reports saying that a number of people have been arrested in connection with the killing, Mehmanparast said, “We have not received any authentic news regarding the arrest of the perpetrators of the assassination of Martyr Ahmadi-Roshan.”
Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani told Al-Alam News Network on Monday that “a number of people who had a hand in the assassination of Martyr Ahmadi-Roshan have been arrested.”
Oil supply and demand not a political issue
Mehmanparast also replied to a question about the remarks that Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi made on Monday, in which he said that his country will make up for any shortfall in the world’s oil supply caused by sanctions against Iran.
Al-Naimi told CNN that his country could increase production by two million barrels “almost immediately” if sanctions are imposed on Iran’s oil industry.
Iran exports roughly 2.5 million barrels per day.
Mehmanparast stated, “Discussions on oil supply and demand are technical, and only oil experts can comment on how much production and supply can increase.”
“The issue of supplying the oil demands of advanced and developed countries… and strategic resources are not issues which could be commented on by political remarks,” he added.
West exerting political pressure on Iran oil importers
Ask about a number of U.S. officials’ recent trips to certain East Asian countries with the aim of urging them to limit oil imports from Iran, Mehmanparast said such measures are meant to exert political pressure on these countries.
“We think that each country should make decisions based on its national interests and should not endanger their national interests under pressure from certain powers, including the United States,” Mehmanparast said.
He also stated that if European Union governments impose sanctions on Iran’s oil industry, those sanctions cannot be implemented due to European countries’ energy demands.
EP/PA
END
MNA
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