Iran denounces European Union's decision to blacklist Hezbollah
7/23/2013 3:30:55 PM
Iran says the European Union's decision to blacklist the military wing of Lebanon's Hezbollah was "absolutely miscalculated" and "strange".
Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Abbas Araghchi, told a news conference in Tehran on Tuesday that the decision by the EU to place the Shiite militant group on its terror list serves Israel's interests and will only complicate the situation in the Middle East.
Hezbollah is an ally of Iran.
"I think if the EU had existed during the World War II, it would definitely have included groups fighting against Nazism and fascism on the list of terrorist groups," Araghchi told reporters.
"The inclusion of Hezbollah on that list is just as strange."
The EU's 28 foreign ministers made the decision on Monday after prolonged diplomatic pressure from the United States, the Netherlands and Israel, who consider Hezbollah a terrorist organisation.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Abbas Araghchi, told a news conference in Tehran on Tuesday that the decision by the EU to place the Shiite militant group on its terror list serves Israel's interests and will only complicate the situation in the Middle East.
Hezbollah is an ally of Iran.
"I think if the EU had existed during the World War II, it would definitely have included groups fighting against Nazism and fascism on the list of terrorist groups," Araghchi told reporters.
"The inclusion of Hezbollah on that list is just as strange."
The EU's 28 foreign ministers made the decision on Monday after prolonged diplomatic pressure from the United States, the Netherlands and Israel, who consider Hezbollah a terrorist organisation.