TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Iran on Monday dismissed a recent resolution by the EU parliament about women’s rights in the Islamic Republic as "one-sided", and "biased".
"For the Islamic Republic of Iran, observing human rights is a religious and legal obligation and a subject in line with the national interests and security," Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.
He said Iran has always strived to fulfill those obligations, and there is no need for spiteful and opportunistic emphases from others in this regard.
On Thursday, members of the European Parliament adopted a resolution that condemned Tehran for what it referred to as "suppression of women".
Mousavi chastised the members of European Parliament (MEPs) for "being unfamiliar with the ongoing developments in Iran", saying it has leveled accusations against Iran based on "incorrect and inauthentic information and of targeted media campaigns".
"The European Parliament's biased, one-sided, unrealistic and disappointing resolution against Iran comes up for a vote at a time when the United States is violating the rights of over 80 million people by subjecting Iran to economic terrorism," he said. "This is being ignored by the MEPs."
The spokesman said while there are a series of shortcomings, "efforts are underway to overcome the challenges based on Islamic and national tenets and values".
Iran, he said, is a long way ahead of its regional neighbors in terms of women's rights, to the point that Iranian women live in better conditions even compared to their peers in some Western countries that accuse others of violations.