Iran Blasts PGCC’s Call for Extension of Arms Ban
TEHRNA (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman condemned a recent statement against the Islamic Republic issued by the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC), saying that the council has turned into a mouthpiece for anti-Iran elements.
The reaction by Seyed Abbas Mousavi came after the PGCC’s Secretariat announced that the council’s newly appointed secretary general had demanded an arms embargo on Iran be extended and levelled several accusations against the Islamic Republic.
In comments on Sunday, Mousavi expressed regret at the unconstructive approach adopted by certain PGCC members vis- -vis the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“Unfortunately, it seems that the so-called Persian Gulf Cooperation Council has turned into a spokesperson for some narrow-minded people both inside the council and outside the region, and that the council’s secretariat, swayed by the wrong and destructive policies and behavior of certain member states, has turned into a mouthpiece for anti-Iran elements,” said the spokesman.
“The PGCC, which is at the apex of its incompetence, and whose internecine differences as well as unrealistic policies have rendered the council ineffective, has, with this move, led to ignoring realities in the region and turning a blind eye to realities and priorities at this sensitive juncture,” Mousavi said.
“The irresponsible statement by the secretary general has been dictated and issued unilaterally at a time when some members of the council have not stopped purchasing and stockpiling weapons even at a time of economic problems, and are among the biggest buyers of arms in the region and in the world.
“Indubitably, the United States’ interests are contingent upon further sales of weapons to these countries with such approaches and empty claims.
“The killing of defenseless people and children in Yemen is a textbook example of wrong policies adopted by certain PGCC members, which have resulted in Yemeni people being killed every day before the eyes of the world by different Western weapons by leaders of this very council.”
His comments came after the secretariat of the PGCC, made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, said in a statement that Iran's alleged “interference” in neighboring countries made an extension of the UN arms embargo necessary.
The arms embargo on Iran is currently set to end on October 18 under Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which Washington quit in 2018.
