Islamabad:
The Minister of Defense, Khawaja Asif, was hard on Israel and his Western allies for the assault “not provoked” and “illegal” against Iran, warning that the double standard of the West and the contempt for diplomacy pushed the region towards a dangerous escalation.
In a vast interview with the official Iran news agency, IRNA, carried out in Islamabad, Asif has been unleashed in the United States and the Zionist regime, accusing them of dismantling diplomatic avenues and fueling regional instability by repeated violations of international law.
“Unlike Iran, Westerners have destroyed the opportunity for diplomacy and are the cause of the beginning of the assaults of the Zionist regime and the United States,” he said, adding that the conduct of Iran had remained “very constructive” throughout.
Stressing the “hypocrisy” of the global nuclear surveillance bodies, Asif criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), claiming that its history was tainted by prejudices and inconsistency.
“A regime which is not even a member of the TNP and that there is no surveillance and inspection of its nuclear arsenals, can do anything and have the authorization to carry out any aggression and attacks against Palestine, Gaza, Yemen and now against Iran,” he declared, referring to the exemption from Israel from control.
“All these countries are the objectives of these deliberate and reckless actions of Tel Aviv, which is not held responsible by the IAEA,” he added.
The Minister of Defense said that Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure and the American support for these attacks had strongly violated international standards.
He described the “terrorist” attacks of nature and accused the United States of committing “aggressive crimes” by hitting Iran’s nuclear installations.
“These actions,” said AIF, “are contrary to international law, the United Nations Charter and humanitarian standards”.
Expressing the concern for growing volatility in the region, Asif observed that Tehran had always pushed diplomacy, when it was the opposite side that has moved away from negotiations.
“I think that the situation has increased to a dangerous level, especially in recent weeks, when Iran has constantly highlighted the need for negotiations and participation in this whole process, and that the Iranians have never left the bargaining table,” he said.
“Iran has never initiated war, but the destruction of diplomacy and the initiation of war were carried out by the other side (America and Israel), which led to the illegitimate aggression of Israel against the nation,” he added.
The Minister stressed that Iran had always favored commitment, despite provocations.
“It is ridiculous that the West always wants Iran to return to the negotiating table, because the Iranians have not left the negotiating table, but have always demanded interaction and negotiations,” he said.
He noted that even if the Iranian diplomat Abbas Arabhchi held talks with European counterparts, another act of aggression was launched against Tehran, which made a scheme of undergoing peace efforts.
Asif argued that the Israeli aggression had crossed the borders and was now downright directed to Iran, which he described as a “planned conspiracy”.
“The continuous attack of Israel against the Palestinians had now reached Iran,” he said, “calling him a planned conspiracy and implemented by the Zionist regime.”
Subject Tehran’s alignment to the Palestinian cause, Asif said: “Iranians stand with Palestine, and it’s never a crime.”
