This combo picture shows Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. (PHOTO / AP & AFP)
TEHRAN – The Iranian foreign minister on Thursday condemned the Swedish parliament's designation of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist" organization.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a phone call with his Irish counterpart Micheal Martin, in which the two sides also discussed the expansion of cooperation in line with their national interests, according to a statement posted on the website of the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Irish foreign minister Micheal Martin said his country is in no way interested in seeing any "incorrect" judgment to be formed against Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, which is a state institution. He emphasized that Ireland is well aware of Iran's role in the fight against terrorism
After Iran on Saturday executed Habib Farajollah Chaab, the ringleader of the Harakat al-Nazal group and a dual Swedish-Iranian national, for masterminding and carrying out several "terror" operations in the southwestern Iranian province of Khuzestan, the Swedish parliament on Wednesday voted in favor of designating the IRGC as a "terrorist" organization.
Amir-Abdollahian noted that the Swedish parliament's move was made under the influence of "instigation" from anti-Iran "terrorists," who have been "rejected" by the Iranian people.
He stressed that the IRGC is a "state institution" responsible for safeguarding the security of Iran and its borders, and plays an important role in the fight against terrorism in the region.
The Irish minister, for his part, said his country is in no way interested in seeing any "incorrect" judgment to be formed against the IRGC, which is a state institution.
He emphasized that Ireland is well aware of Iran's role in the fight against terrorism.
Martin also welcomed the cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as the efforts to remove the sanctions against Tehran.
Also on Thursday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned in a statement the Swedish parliament's "unwise" move.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani was quoted as saying that the Swedish parliament's "illegal" move contradicts accepted general principles of international law and amounts to an "aggression" against Iran's sovereignty and national security.