Joint statement by 22 countries accuses Iran of intimidation and attacks abroad
Sydney, June 11 (SANA)Twenty-two countries, including the United States and several European nations, accusedIranon Thursday of carrying out intimidation, harassment and attack plots on their territories and called on Tehran to immediately halt such activities.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), a joint statement issued by the countries said: “Attempts to kill, kidnap, harass, intimidate or otherwise attack individuals on our territories undermine national sovereignty and international norms and must stop immediately.”
The signatories accused Iranian security and intelligence agencies, including the intelligence arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Quds Force, of involvement in what they described as “plots and malicious activities” targeting Iranian dissidents, journalists, communities and interests in several countries.
The countries said they were “united in their determination to protect our countries and our people from these threats” and urged Iran to cease such activities.
The statement also accused Tehran of being behind a campaign of attacks in several European countries targeting Iranian and American journalists, as well as the interests of multiple states. It said the group “Islamic Right Movement,” which it linked to Iran, had claimed responsibility for a number of those attacks.
According to the statement, the group claimed responsibility for attacks against institutions in theUnited Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as stabbings and arson attacks targeting institutions in north London in recent months.
Australiaexpelled Iran’s ambassador in August last year, accusing Tehran of involvement in hostile activities. Canberra also withdrew its ambassador from Tehran and suspended operations at its embassy there.
The statement was signed by Albania, Australia, Belgium, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and the United States.F.J./ABD