Iran Press/Iran news: Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said: "Unfortunately, because of the unjust and unilateral sanctions of the United States, some of our compatriots, even citizens of foreign countries that the US claims they have violated Washington's illicit sanctions, suffered some problems in the US and in some European countries and also in the Far East."
He made the remarks in response to Iran Press news agency reporter's question about the condition of an Iranian engineer, Jalal Rohollahnejad, 41, who was detained at Nice airport in southern France on February 2.
Mousavi added: "At that time, we announced that it was unlawful and unacceptable. Most of the arrests have been made on the pretext of violation of alleged sanctions that were not in place at the time. Later they expanded their sanctions list. So the basis of their work was false and illegal."
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has made every effort to release these individuals, including the aforementioned. There are several issues at various angles, therefore, a special working group has been set up at the Iranian Foreign Ministry which is following the issues. By coordinating the relevant institutions and families of these people, we will try to provide more details about the illegal and inhuman detention of the individuals," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman noted.
"Iran's diplomacy enters new phase"
After US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and the imposition of unfair sanctions on the Iranian nation, Tehran's diplomacy entered a new phase, the spokesman stated.
"Deal of Century, futile"
Referring to the so-called Deal of Century, the spokesman said although predictions indicate that the issue of the Deal of Century would be futile, but Muslim countries should be vigilant.
Mousavi, on the eve of World Quds Day, added: "The issue of Palestine has not yet been resolved due to the influence of America and the false illusions of some regional countries."
Mousavi stated that Iran considers the issue of Palestine as the most important issue in the Islamic world, adding that on this year's Quds Day, all freedom-loving people will loudly voice the demand for liberation of Palestine.
"Turkey-Iran ties all-inclusive"
Mousavi added that Turkey is one of the most important neighbours of Iran, and the relations between the two countries are all-inclusive, and there is no contradiction in the speeches and behaviour of Turkish authorities towards Iran.
"kidnapped border guards will soon return to Iran"
In response to a question about the fate of the kidnapped Iranian border guards, the spokesman said that one of the main topics in all discussions between Zarif and high-ranking Pakistani officials during his recent visit to Islamabad was about this issue.
He added that Zarif in the meeting with Pakistan's top army commander discussed the issue as well as border security and the fight against terrorism across the border.
"Unfortunately, three of our border guards still remain in the hands of terrorists. We hope that as a result of Iran-Pakistan agreements, these border guards will soon return to Iran," Mousavi said.
"Iranophobia, root cause of regional misunderstandings"
The spokesman referred to Iran's proposal to sign a non-aggression agreement with Persian Gulf Arab states, saying: "Our region has entered to an unnecessary crisis, which has led to misunderstandings."
"Non-regional countries have turned the region into a powder keg, and an ammunition dump, creating anxiety through misinformation and Iranophobia campaign. Despite some minor differences, Iran is ready to negotiate with all of the countries of the region in order to eliminate any misunderstanding." 203/213/104
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