Iran has strongly condemned the European Union for lifting an arms embargo on the militants fighting to topple the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Press TV reported.
The lifting of the arms embargo on foreign-sponsored Syrian militants is yet another proof of the bloc's double standards, and indicates how its announced policies differ from its acts, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi told reporters after an international conference on Syria held in Tehran on Wednesday.
"The world's public opinion will not accept the EU's move to send weapons to terrorists [in Syria]. This act originates from the arrogant nature of these countries and their logic of oppression," Salehi stated.
The Iranian official reminded that a number of European states remain opposed to providing Syrian militants with weaponry, expressing hope that the EU will not put its decision into effect by August and will overturn it.
On Monday, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said that EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels had reached an agreement to lift the arms embargo on militants in Syria, while maintaining other sanctions on the country.
Britain and France had backed the proposal to send weapons to the militants, while other countries, such as Austria, Sweden, Finland, and the Czech Republic, opposed the move.
On Wednesday, Salehi also lashed out at Republican US Senator John McCain for his visit to Syria and described his meeting with militant commanders as a violation of "international conventions."
"By traveling to Syria [without a visa], you violated all conventions and your claims about democracy, national sovereignty and territorial integrity," he addressed the US senator.
"We condemn this move," he stressed, blaming US officials for moving upstream in a world that is moving toward law-abidingness.
On Wednesday, the conference in Tehran saw representatives from 40 countries to discuss ways to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria under the banner of "Political Solution, Regional Stability."
Tehran once again renewed its call for a political resolution to the ongoing crisis in Syria and the need for an end to all fighting in the violence-wracked country.
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