Iran Condemns NATO Chief’s ‘Meddlesome’ Comments

In a statement on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said “the Islamic Republic of Iran condemns these meddlesome remarks by foreign powers and security bodies about the internal affairs of other countries and the Persian Gulf region.”

“Iran is of the opinion that any interference in the region’s security arrangements by outsiders would in itself cause and exacerbate insecurity and tension in the region,” he added.

“Instead of meddling in the region’s affairs, the NATO Secretary General had better be accountable for the destructive impacts of the intervention of the military organization in the Middle East and West Asia, which has resulted in nothing but the killing of civilians, strengthening of terrorism, increased production of illicit drugs, as well as devastation and escalation of insecurity in the region,” the spokesman added.

Mousavi said the devastating impacts of such interventions can already be witnessed in the insecurity and instability of certain regional states.

“Iran believes that the security of the Middle East must be ensured by regional countries themselves without the presence of foreign troops,” he noted.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, like any other independent country in the world, reserves the right to enjoy conventional defence programs,” Mousavi said.

“The missile program of the Islamic Republic of Iran has a defensive and deterrent nature, and expressions of unnecessary concerns will not affect our country’s policy in preserving and developing our missile defence program,” he added.

In an interview during the UN General Assembly in New York on September 24, Stoltenberg accused Iran of pursuing “destabilizing policies”, undermining regional stability, and supporting terrorist organizations, and called for action against Iran’s missile program.