Spox: Terrorist act in Turkish soil behind a halt in export of Iran's gas

Tehran, June 15, IRNA - Spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Abbas Mousavi stated on Monday that the reason behind the two-month stop in the export of Iran's gas to Turkey is a terrorist act that occurred in the soil of the neighboring country. A halt in Iran's oil exports to Turkey has no political or economic reasons, Mousavi said addressing his weekly press conference. Mousavi urged the other side to take measures to solve the problem and repair [the pipes] soon. The issue may be among the questions about which Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will talk with Turkish officials during his ongoing visit to Istanbul, Mousavi noted. ** Unilateralism About the US unilateralism, Mousavi said the US moves have threatened Europe's energy security. The United States has recently threatened Germany regarding the issue of Nord Stream- a project system of the offshore gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. About the threat, Mousavi said Iran has been voicing for years that keeping silent on the US bullying will ultimately tangle the world. Iran welcomes Germany's reaction to the US measure that has put Europe's energy security in danger, he added. ** Sanctioning ICC staff Speaking about the US move to sanction judges and staff members of the International Criminal Court, Mousavi said such an act shows the US eagerness to follow anarchism to violate the world order. Reportedly, US President Donal Trump issued an executive order on Thursday to sanction staff members of the International Criminal Court which investigates the possible role of the US soldiers in committing war crimes in Afghanistan. Also about the recent letter sent by the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President of the UN Security Council Nicolas de Rivière to express disagreement with the US move to make the UN approve the extension of the arms embargo against Iran, Mousavi said Iran appreciates such a letter and calls on other independent countries across the world to stand against the US unilateralism. ** Judge Mansouri Asked about the role of Iran's Embassy in Romania in detention of Judge Gholam Reza Mansouri, the spokesman said he had come to the embassy to ask for how to return home. As Mousavi said, INTERPOL- the International Criminal Police Organization- had been chasing him. To deal with such cases, the Iranian Foreign Ministry tries to facilitate legal measures to be taken. ** Referendum in Palestine A referendum in Palestine is a proposal made by the Islamic Republic, he announced. ** US presence in the region As the diplomat said, the US presence in the region has caused insecurity. Iran is not concerned about the US exit from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and other regional states because the country believes that this is the US presence which has led to insecurity. ** Iranian assets in South Korea The diplomat censured South Korea for blindly following the United States policies in case of freezing Iranian assets. Unfortunately, South Korea has let Tehran-Seoul cordial relations be affected by the interference of a third country, Mousavi said. Three days ago, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged Abdolnaser Hemmati, the Governor of Central Bank of Iran (CBI), to pursue the case of Iranian assets recently frozen by South Korea. Also about the US efforts to send Iran's case to the Security Council, Mousavi said the US claims about Iran are baseless and unacceptable. He further called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to be impartial in dealing with Iran's case; otherwise, interaction with the IAEA will somehow face problems. ** Talks with US Touching upon the talks with the United States, the diplomat said the main condition for negotiations still exists. The US should put economic terrorism aside, re-join the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) from which it left unilaterally, and compensate for the losses, Mousavi noted. ** Security in borders with Afghanistan Mousavi has advised dear Afghan nationals to choose official routes to commute to avoid being deceived by traffickers in borders. Tens of people may daily lose their lives in deserts and mountains as those places are routes for traffickers to transport drugs and refugees. Recently, three illegal Afghan refugees were killed and four others wounded during a car accident in the central Iranian province of Yazd, the accident which went viral after being poisoned by some opportunists who are against cordial ties between Iran and Afghanistan. Officials believe that protests can be held against what happened in Yazd, but not through hostile ways.