The Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) meet with Kazem SADJADPOUR, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, in the European Parliament in Brussels. Statements by Takis HADJIGEORGIOU (GUE/NGL, CY), Kazem SADJADPOUR, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Patricia LALONDE (ALDE, FR) and Victor BOŞTINARU (S&D, RO).

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Brussels

exchange of views

meeting

EU - Iran (T)

BOŞTINARU, Victor (S&D, RO)

HADJIGEORGIOU, Takis (GUE/NGL, CY)

LALONDE, Patricia (ALDE, FR)

SADJADPOUR, Kazem (IR)

Exchange of views with Kazem SADJADPOUR, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister: extracts from the meeting at the Committee on Foreign Affairs

SOUNDBITE (English), Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Kazem SADJADPOUR, I think that the US withdrawal is not a simple withdrawal and it should be looked from different dimensions. I think that to put it lightly it was a very illegal, immoral, irresponsible and it was, I think, it was not a sing of US strength but it was a sing of US weakness.

SOUNDBITE (English), Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Kazem SADJADPOUR, We know that Trump&rsquo;s view of the World order is based on America alone and weakening the EU institutions, moralising, ignoring EU as main player in the international system. I am sorry to report that he even humiliated the EU leaders who went to Washington.

SOUNDBITE (English), Takis HADJIGEORGIOU (GUE/NGL, CY), I want also to support the voices that came out of some my colleagues about the human rights in your country. Please, tell us something about that.

SOUNDBITE (English), Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Kazem SADJADPOUR, On human rights, first of all there are different cases in all countries that are represented here and globally. There is no perfect country with no case, if there is anyone with any case, let me know, but the cases are different if you want to judge.

SOUNDBITE (French), Patricia LALONDE (ALDE, FR), I would like to know what is Iran&rsquo;s business in Yemen and if you deliver them weapons.

SOUNDBITE (English), Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Kazem SADJADPOUR, On Yemen, Iran has no genuine desire in the region at all, for the lady who spoke in French. We do not have hegemony desire at all in the region. Actually we do believe that the era of hegemony is over, globally and regionally.

SOUNDBITE (English), Victor BO&#350;TINARU (S&amp;D, RO), How will you describe, how will you assess the today&rsquo;s relation between Iran and Israel? What it is in your assessment the very nature of Israel&rsquo;s strikes in Syria?

SOUNDBITE (English), Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Kazem SADJADPOUR, On the issue of Syria it is a very complicated issue but I think that the political process has started, the political process has been shaped by Iran, then Russia, and Turkey. I think it has been helpful in pacifying some of the regions. I think the threat of Isis and those radicals is not as it was two years ago. [...] It is Israel occupying the Golan Heights which is a part of a Syrian territory. Who is killing Palestinians just as of a week ago. I think these questions should be answered, raised and really analysed.