Iran calls on EU to stop shifting blame for Ukraine crisis to other countries

Iranian officials have expressed concern over the EU's irresponsible behavior during a meeting with EU’s Deputy Security General Enrique Mora.

Political deputy at the Iranian Foreign Ministry Majid Takht-Ravanchi  and Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi emphasised that the EU should not shift the responsibility for its mistakes in the Ukrainian conflict onto other countries, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

"Mr. Takht-Ravanchi and I had an open conversation with Enrique Mora on a number of issues, including the prospects of lifting sanctions and matters related to the nuclear programme amid recent developments. It was made clear to him [Enrique Mora] that the EU must put an end to its self-centered and irresponsible behavior," Gharibabadi said. 

"Europe must stop shifting its own problems and mistakes, including those related to the conflict in Ukraine, onto other countries by involving them [in the conflict]," he added.  

The Iranian diplomat said that Europe needs to reconsider its approach to relations with other countries, as even regarding the issue of Iran's nuclear programme, "it has failed to become a serious player due to its unwillingness to take responsibility." 

Previously, the Iranian media reported that the current negotiations between representatives of Iran and Europe are seen as a continuation of the meetings that took place between diplomats during the UN General Assembly summit in New York in September. The negotiations are being held amid a significant deterioration in relations between Iran and European countries, driven by the EU's imposition of sanctions in November on Iran's aviation and maritime sectors for allegedly transporting ammunition and weapons to Russia. On November 21, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors adopted an anti-Iran resolution.

On November 24, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced that on November 29, the deputy foreign ministers of Iran and the "E3" (France, Germany, and the UK) will meet in Geneva to discuss a range of issues concerning bilateral relations between the Islamic Republic and European countries, as well as Iran's nuclear programme.   According to the Farheekhtegan newspaper, before heading to Geneva, Takht-Ravanchi visited Oslo at the initiative of the Norwegian side, where he held a series of meetings to "lay the groundwork for future bilateral negotiations with the US."

By Naila Huseynova