Iran Blasts French FM’s Threatening Remarks

Bahram Qassemi on Sunday referred to the top French diplomat’s comments on the threshold of his trip to Iran, saying, “Long gone are the days of sanctions and threats.”

In an interview with the Persian-language Fars News Agency, Qassemi said Iran will tell the French official that Paris’ concerns about Iran’s Middle East policies are “illusory” and “wrong.”

“They should look for [the sources of] their worries on the region in the excessive demands and policies of aggression and in the capitals of some other countries in the region and beyond,” said Qassemi.

He also reacted to claims and unfounded comments made on some occasions by French officials against Iran and its role in the region.

“French authorities should pay attention more carefully to the complicated issues of West Asia and Iran as well as the existing realities and whatever has been going on recently in the region,” the spokesman underlined.

He said French officials should know that there are ill-wishers who wouldn’t like Tehran and Paris to have a balanced relationship.

Qassemi also noted that France is well aware of Iran’s stabilizing role in the Middle East region.

“I believe French statesmen know that the Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the most important and most serious countries standing at the forefront of the war on terrorism, especially the ISIS terrorist group, over the recent years, and has made relentless and serious efforts in fighting terrorism and helping boost stability and security and safeguard the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of all regional countries,” he noted.

Qassemi also pointed to the meddlesome remarks by the foreign minister and other officials of France about Iran’s missile defence program.

“Iran has a very clear position on remarks occasionally made by some French officials or published on media,” he noted.

The spokesman said Iran needs to be able to defend itself against aggressors.

He said Iran’s policy in the defence sector is based on deterrence and defence and only serves to secure the country’s territorial integrity, independence and freedom.

“This policy and the missile issue are not against the regulations and resolutions of the UN Security Council,” he noted.

Qassemi reiterated that Iran will not seek anybody’s permission when it comes to its missile and defence policies and will press ahead with its policies in the missile and defence sectors.