Tehran Rejects Pompeo’s “Ridiculous” Comments on Iranian Embassies’ Activities

In a Wednesday statement, Qassemi said accusations raised by Pompeo are part of the US’ targeted psychological wars against Iranian embassies in the world.

“The embassies of the Islamic Republic operate within the international conventions and based on reciprocal relations with the host countries and endeavour to expand Tehran’s friendly and bilateral relations with them,” he noted.

The spokesman also said levelling accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran over its diplomatic activities is part of a new attempt by the US to sever Iran’s relations with other countries.

Qassemi said the contemporary history is replete with illegal measures and violations of the international law by the US embassies in the world.

The US embassies have been interfering in the internal affairs of the host countries and severing their foreign relations with the outside world, he added.

Pompeo makes the baseless accusations against Iran as there is strong evidence, provided by various sources, that the US embassies are engaged in espionage and destructive measures in different countries, he said, adding that hundreds of military and security personnel are operating under a diplomatic guise in these embassies.

Pompeo on Tuesday accused Iran of using its embassies to plot what he called terrorist attacks in Europe. He also warned Tehran that its actions have “a real high cost” after it threatened to disrupt Mideast oil supplies.

Pompeo’s comments came during a trip to the United Arab Emirates as senior US officials were wrapping up three days of talks in neighbouring Saudi Arabia on countering Iran and starving it of oil revenues.

“Just this past week there were Iranians arrested in Europe who were preparing to conduct a terror plot in Paris, France. We have seen this malign behaviour in Europe,” Pompeo said in an interview with Sky News Arabia.

Iran denies any involvement and says the allegations against its diplomats are intended to damage its relations with the European Union amid negotiations between Iran and the three European states over the future of the Iran nuclear deal following the unilateral withdrawal of the US from the multi-national treaty.