Mehmanparast on Thursday censured anti-Iran remarks by Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird at the 67th UN General Assembly session as “unprofessional remarks” which show the growing inclination of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government towards extremism.
“Such an extremist approach, which is characterized by Islamophobia, racism and double-standard approaches to terrorism and human rights, has turned the Canadian government into a source of threat to international security through the creation of tension in international relations,” he said.
In a speech at the UN General Assembly on October 1, Baird claimed that a nuclear Iran posed the most significant threat to global peace and security.
Mehmanparast advised the Canadian government to tackle its own domestic problems and to stop violating the rights of the aboriginal people and spreading Islamophobia.
“Aggressive policies and rhetoric against Iran have been already tried by countries claiming to sway global power and their inefficiency has been proven,” the Iranian official said, adding that Harper government’s efforts in this regard would be also futile.
Mehmanparast said the disruption of the ties between the Iranian and Canadian nations was an attempt by the Harper government to challenge Iran's international credit following successful hosting of the 16th Non-Aligned Movement Summit in August.
“Restoration of normalcy in relations between two countries is not contingent upon Canada’s decision and the Islamic Republic of Iran will decide about the issue based on its own interests,” the Iranian diplomat concluded.
On September 7, Canada announced that it is closing its embassy in Iran and asked Iranian diplomats to leave Canadian soil within five days. It has also frozen the bank accounts of many Iranian nationals living in Canada and banned money transfers to Iran.
It is widely believed that Canada’s abrupt decision to sever all ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran stems from the strong Zionist influence on the country’s politicians.
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