Iran rejects UN report on human rights situation

On Saturday evening, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that Ahmed Shaheed collates the information he uses to write reports accusing Iran of human rights violations from anti-Iranian media outlets and terrorist groups.

Mehmanparast also expressed regret over the publication of Shaheed's recent report, saying it seriously undermines the UN's system of human rights protection and lacks legal credibility.

He went on to say that the Islamic Republic is eternally committed to respecting human dignity and the basic rights of the people, in line with its Constitution and religious teachings.

He also noted that Tehran will continue to abide by its international obligations, despite all the anti-Iran propaganda and unconstructive reports.

Meanwhile, Hossein Sobhani-Nia, a member of the Majlis Presiding Board, on Saturday dismissed the “incorrect claims” by the UN rapporteur, saying such reports are aimed at smearing Iran.

He added that Shaheed moved to once again publish an anti-Iran report to “toady to the US and the Zionist regime (Israel) and to satisfy them.”

The report pursues no other objective but to overshadow the positive atmosphere created after the recent talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1) in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the Iranian legislator said, emphasizing that the arrogance would definitely fail to achieve its aims.

Mohammad Saleh Jokar, a member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, also dismissed the “prejudiced” report and said, “Ahmed Shaheed is rehashing Washington's Iranophobia scenario.”

He called on Muslim countries to set up a committee to probe into the US human rights situation because certain international bodies and human rights organizations do not fulfill their commitments in this regard.

(2013-03-03/presstv)