Romania's support for the right of Iranians to choose their future is clear, Foreign Affairs Minister Oana Toiu said on Sunday evening.
"Romania's support for the right of Iranians to choose their future is clear, a future anchored in the observance of the fundamental rights, in the respect for freedom and a future anchored in security. The pressure on the regime in Tehran must be maintained," Oana Toiu said, mentioning that this thing can be achieved only through the package of sanctions of the European Union against Iran and through the nuclear file at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), agerpres reports.
The head of the Romanian diplomacy announced that next week, depending on the developments in the region, a joint meeting of the European Union's Foreign ministries and the Foreign ministers of the Middle East will be held in order to coordinate future activities.
"Moreover, a very important lever in future negotiations is the sanctions package that the European Union currently has against Iran. Why do I mention that it is a lever for very important negotiations? It is because this sanctions package can be an instrument to increase pressure, but, at the same time, it can also serve as a tool to encourage de-escalation. We firmly condemn Iran's attacks in the region and aim to contribute to de-escalation through the international formats in which we participate. At the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is the relevant intergovernmental organisation for managing nuclear files, in tomorrow's meeting we will be represented at the vice-governor level by our ambassador who represents us at the IAEA. Romania's standpoint, aligned with that of the European Union, is to call on Iran to stop these actions, to demand access for inspectors on the ground once the situation stabilises and we are aligned both at the European Union level and with the United States in the objective of preventing any opportunity Iran might have to develop nuclear weapons," Foreign Affairs Minister Toiu said.
According to her, it's paramount to mention at this moment the effect which Iran's defence industry has had and continues to have over the war in Ukraine.
"Russia's drones, both those that attack and take the lives of innocent civilians in Ukraine and those that have illegally entered Romanian airspace, were drones of Iranian design. Of course, at present, the significant reduction in military production capacity on Iranian territory can also have the effect of weakening the partnership between Iran and Russia and, in practice, reducing the resources available to Russia in the war in Ukraine," Oana Toiu said.
She also mentioned the fact that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been classified as a terrorist organisation.
"Another important element to mention is that Alireza Arafi, who effectively assumed leadership by virtue of his membership in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was appointed on Sunday to head Iran's Leadership Council. It is very important to mention that Alireza Arafi, in his capacity as a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is included on the European Union sanctions list, which also applies in Romania. In December, at the end of last year, we listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation, which means that none of its members can travel within the European Union, hold bank accounts or conduct financial transactions on the EU territory," Oana Toiu pointed out.
The Foreign Affairs Minister reiterated that Iran's attacks on states in the region are unjustified and must be stopped.
"Moreover, it is very important to mention the solidarity with the states in the region, which is why we have held discussions throughout today and will continue to do so with the foreign ministers of the region, especially since they stand alongside their governments and are the guardians of the safety of Romanian citizens in the area. But, it is equally important to clarify that they have not provoked Iran. The attacks on the states in the region are unjustified and must be stopped. The next political steps include these meetings in an international format, as well as the bilateral discussions in which Romania participates. I have underscored the urgency of de-escalation and restraint from actions that could affect nuclear safety. I have called for respect and protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law," the head of Romanian diplomacy pointed out.
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