Speaking at a weekly news conference on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani warned European countries against any plans to pass new sanctions against Iran, saying: “We invite European parties to exercise rationality.”
He also deplored foreign interference in Iran’s internal affairs, stressing that the Islamic Republic has acted responsibly in regional developments and is considered a partner in creating stability.
Calling on Europe to avoid interventionist behavior, the spokesman said: “If the European side is ready for interaction, Iran will be too. But if they opt for selective and interfering behavior, Iran will react. Iran will act proportionally to its measures.”
In a telephone conversation with his Portuguese counterpart on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned about Tehran’s response to any new sanctions or resolutions that may be brought up at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers of the European Union.
Pointing to the recent unrest in some Iranian cities, Amirabdollahian said: “We are a country that is facing terrorist groups like al-Qaeda, Jaish ul-Adl and Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) in the west and east. Additionally, we have seen weapons smuggled into the country from the western and eastern borders in recent weeks.”
The foreign minister also lamented the fact that various countries have made interfering remarks and practically provoked rioters and terrorists in Iran by categorizing riots and terrorist activities as protests.
“They (foreign states) have even put on their agenda the issue of issuing resolutions or (imposing sanctions against Iran) at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers of the European Union. If such a move is carried out, the Islamic Republic of Iran will take retaliatory measures,” he warned.
