TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh has denounces U.S.-led efforts to boycott the upcoming Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and express solidarity with China that is targeted by the American smear campaign.
“Whether it’s ‘diplomatic boycott’ of #Beijing22, or depriving Iranian teams from accessing financial resources, everyone should denounce politicization of sport,” Khatibzadeh wrote in a post on his Twitter account on Thursday, adding, “Looking forward to participation in the event, we express solidarity with China that is targeted by smear campaign.”
The diplomat’s expression of support for the major international sport event came days after China reacted strongly to reports that U.S. President Joe Biden is contemplating “a diplomatic boycott” of the event, describing the scheme as “a naked political provocation.”
He said a diplomatic boycott would be “a serious stain on the spirit of the Olympic Charter” as well as “a naked political provocation, and a serious offense to the 1.4 billion Chinese people.”