Iran Denounces EU Decision On Lebanese Hezbollah

Tehran, July 23, IRNA – Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi expressed regret over the European Union move in including military wing of the Lebanese Hezbollah in its so called terrorist list. Salehi said the decision which was made under the pressure of certain influential members of the EU is in contradiction with all legal and political criteria. According to the report of Foreign Ministry Media Department on Monday evening, Salehi called the action surprising and unacceptable, adding that calling a resistance group, which is fighting against aggression and occupation and has a lawful presence with popular support in the Lebanese territory, as a terrorist, indicated weak logic of the move. He added that the EU foreign ministers think that they will affect regional developments with this move, adding that the EU, because of its lack of correct analysis of the crises, has taken a wrong approach and demonstrated a dual standard policy. Salehi pointed out that Iran strongly denounce this decision of the EU foreign ministers and believes that such a move will not change nature of their popular campaign. He underlined that the EU move is certainly in direction of illegitimate interests of the Zionist regime and pressures of its supporters in Europe. Salehi stressed that this move is a kind of action against Lebanese honorable nation, because Hezbollah is a resistance force coming from Lebanon society and is respected and honored by existing groups in the country./end