ALWAGHT- Following Australia’s expulsion of Iran’s ambassador over alleged “anti-Semitism,” Tehran vowed a reciprocal response, stressing that its culture, history, and religion reject any form of religious discrimination.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei rejected allegations of anti-Semitism following Australia’s expulsion of Tehran’s ambassador, pledging appropriate retaliation. He stressed that anti-Semitism is historically a Western and European phenomenon and attributed Canberra’s actions to attempts to justify its anti-Iranian policies while downplaying rare domestic criticisms of Israel.
Baghaei also criticized the UK, France, and Germany for trying to reinstate UN sanctions on Iran via the JCPOA “snapback” mechanism, asserting that the European trio lacked legal or moral authority. He noted ongoing diplomatic efforts with European, Chinese, and Russian officials to prevent the reinstatement of sanctions and stated that Iran has a clear plan to mitigate any fallout while remaining wary of psychological pressure on its people.
On nuclear diplomacy, Baghaei emphasized that Iran has never abandoned negotiations and continues to engage with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He highlighted ongoing discussions to develop a fresh approach for cooperation, reaffirming Iran’s commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the agency’s safeguards, despite tensions with the United States and European parties over past breaches of the nuclear agreement.
