IRGC plays key role in anti-terror fight, EU must respect Armed Forces: Iran foreign minister

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the European Union must respect the country's Armed Forces in line with international law.

In a phone call with EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell on Wednesday, Amir-Abdollahian warned against any European move to blacklist the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

The IRGC plays a constructive role in establishing lasting security in the region and fighting against terrorism, he added.

The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution condemning Iran’s extensive drone and missile strikes against the Israeli regime, in a vote of 357-20, and called for further sanctions to be imposed on Iranian entities.

The resolution also reiterated the European Parliament’s long-standing call to include Iran’s IRGC on the EU list of terrorist organizations.

This came as the US, Canada and Britain also announced that they were targeting Iran’s drone and missile industries by taking measures against individuals and companies “closely involved” in Iran’s production of unmanned aerial vehicles.

In a statement released on Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani denounced the trio’s coercive measures against several real and legal entities linked to the Iranian Armed Forces, stressing that such moves could by no means undermine the Iranian government and nation’s determination.

Iran condemns new sanctions by US, Britain and Canada

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman condemns sanctions imposed by the US, the UK and Canada against a number of Iranian individuals and companies, stressing that such steps cannot erode the Iranian government and nation’s determination.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Amir-Abdollahian reiterated the need to put an immediate end to Israel's genocide and crimes against the people of Palestine, particularly in Gaza.

The top Iranian diplomat said that the United Nations needs to play a genuine role in Gaza on both regional and international levels by taking Palestinians’ rightful demands into account.

At least 34,568 people, most of them women, children and adolescents, have been killed and more than 77,765 injured in Israel's war in Gaza that was launched on October 7 following al-Aqsa Storm, a retaliatory operation staged by the Palestinian resistance groups.

In his remarks, the Iranian foreign minister also defended Iran's retaliatory strikes against the occupied territories as legitimate, saying the move was based on self-defense right.

On April 1, the Israeli regime carried out terrorist airstrikes on the consular section of Iran's embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, which killed two IRGC generals, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, as well as five of their accompanying officers.

In retaliation, the IRGC targeted the occupied territories on April 13 with a barrage of drones and missiles. The retaliatory strikes, dubbed Operation True Promise, inflicted damage on Israeli military bases across the occupied Palestinian territories.

In the Wednesday telephone call, Amir-Abdollahian also welcomed the continuation of Iran-Europe dialogue, saying it will promote cooperation between the two sides.

He added that Iran took positive steps during the talks to revive a US-abandoned nuclear deal -- officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) -- but the negotiations failed to achieve any outcome due to the excessive demands of certain parties.

The top Iranian diplomat also said his country's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is on a good path.

He also welcomed a planned visit by the UN nuclear agency chief Rafael Mariano Grossi to the country on May 6-7.

EU not after tensions with Iran: Borrell

Borrell said the EU does not seek tension with Iran and welcomed the continuation of diplomatic consultations between the two sides.

Pointing to extensive international calls for the establishment of an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and a swap deal, the senior EU diplomat called on all parties to make efforts to achieve sustainable peace and stability through the formation of an independent Palestinian country.

He also commended Iran's positive role in easing tensions and restoring peace and stability to the region.

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