Iran censures US-led fuel sanctions

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has denounced as "inhumane and illegal" sanctions by the US and its allies on Iranian passenger planes, urging countries to stop political moves, Press TV reported.

"Refusal of certain Western countries to refuel passenger planes is an inhumane move which runs counter to international regulations because countries are committed to provide passenger planes with required fuel," Mehmanparast told reporters at his weekly press conference in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Tuesday.

It is a politically-motivated move led by certain Western powers, and the United States in particular, with the purpose of "exerting pressure on the Iranian nation," he added.The Iranian spokesperson recommended that European countries should not involve themselves in political games because "there is no rationale behind the move and it will bear no fruits."

Mehmanparast stated that it is a "sham imagination" to think that sanctions and pressure would make the Iranian nation stop its way to progress and give up its rights.

Under the pretext of nuclear non-proliferation, Washington prohibited US entities from any transactions with the Tidewater Middle East Company - which operates seven port facilities in Iran - and IranAir, under the pretext that the two major components of the Iranian transport infrastructure are being used to help the country develop nuclear weapons.

IranAir serves 35 international and 25 domestic destinations with a fleet of about 40 aircraft.

Iran, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, says its nuclear program is purely civilian and directed at the peaceful applications of the technology.


/Trend/