TEHRAN -- Iran says certain European states are not in a position to advise others on observing the principles of international law, reacting to the Council of the European Union’s sanctioning of dozens of Iranian individuals and entities.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani made the remarks after the EU council imposed the restrictive measures on 32 Iranian individuals and two entities over what the bloc called Tehran’s crackdown on recent riots.
The European states, which have been issuing such pieces of advice, Kanaani said, themselves, do not abide by the norms of international law and take steps towards violation of international commitments and human rights.
The countries in question have arbitrarily detained a considerable number of Iranian citizens, sentenced them to long-term incarceration, or extradited them for “vain reasons and unfounded accusations” based on “self-made and illegal criteria,” the spokesperson noted.
“These states have replaced the international laws and conventions with their own courts’ political and non-legal rulings,” he noted.
“The Islamic Republic is aware of and committed to its international obligations and takes its actions in line with its domestic laws and regulations and its international commitments,” he added.
The European Union has been imposing sanctions against Iran over what it calls the country’s approach to the foreign-backed riots that erupted in September following the tragic death of a young Iranian woman, called Mahsa Amini. She fainted at a police