Warsaw under heavy criticism for agreeing to host an anti-Iran conference

As part of its campaign to intensify international pressures on Iran, the United States is planning to hold an anti-Iran conference in Poland. While condemning Washington’s increasingly hostile approach, Iran’s foreign ministry summoned Polish envoy to officially declare its protest to Warsaw’s compliance to the American demands.

کد خبر: ۸۶۹۴۵۱

تاریخ: ۲۳ دی ۱۳۹۷ - ۱۷:۵۲

Tabnak – As part of its campaign to intensify international pressures on Iran, the United States is planning to hold an anti-Iran conference in Poland. While condemning Washington’s increasingly hostile approach, Iran’s foreign ministry summoned Polish envoy to officially declare its protest to Warsaw’s compliance to the American demands.

According to the official Iranian media, Poland’s charge d’affaires in Tehran was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday in protest at a so-called conference on Middle East peace and security that the United States is going to hold jointly with Poland in Warsaw on February 13 and 14.

In the meeting, the director of the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s department for Eastern Europe affairs voiced protest to the Polish government for working with the US to host the planned anti-Iran conference, saying, “This is a hostile US move against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Poland is expected to refrain from keeping the US company in holding such a conference.”

In response, the Polish diplomat provided an explanation for the conference, saying it would not be an anti-Iran gathering and that Poland’s stances differ from the American officials’ recent comments.

The Iranian official said the explanation was “insufficient”, stressing that the Polish government must take immediate action to make up for the decision, otherwise “the Islamic Republic of Iran will have to take retaliatory measures.” Pointing to the historical ties between Tehran and Warsaw, the Polish charge d’affaires said he would convey Iran’s message to Polish officials.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had earlier lashed out at the anti-Iran conference to be held by the US in the Polish capital, describing it as a “desperate circus” that will disgrace the participants.

“Reminder to host/participants of anti-Iran conference: those who attended last US anti-Iran show are either dead, disgraced, or marginalized. And Iran is stronger than ever,” Zarif said in a Friday tweet.

Zarif has also reminded Poland of the favor that Iran has done the Polish during the second world war, noting, “Polish government can't wash the shame: while Iran saved Poles in WWII, it now hosts desperate anti-Iran circus.”

His comments came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News in an interview that Washington will jointly host a global summit focused on Iran and the Middle East next month in Poland. The international gathering will take place in Warsaw from February 13 to 14, the US State Department said in a statement.

Pompeo said the meeting would "focus on Middle East stability and peace, freedom and security here in this region, and that includes an important element of making sure that Iran is not a destabilizing influence".