Roknabadi Describes Indictment as ‘Politicized’, Rules Out Israeli Attack
Iranian Ambassador Ghazanfar Roknabadi described the Special Tribunal for Lebanon indictment in the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri as “politicized,” saying he supports a “non-politicized” international justice.
“We are keen that no one in Lebanon objects that Israel is the enemy, despite the differences over the techniques of the resistance,” Roknabadi told As Safir newspaper on Monday.
He urged the Lebanese parties to “understand (each other), (launch a national) dialogue and unite.” He stressed the importance of the “democratic process between the Lebanese.”
Asked about the bilateral relations between Lebanon and Iran, the ambassador said: “We have signed with Lebanon 26 development, trade, health, cultural and other agreements that we are supposed to begin working on this year.”
Roknabadi ruled out the possibility of an Israeli attack on Lebanon or Iran. “The resistance is gearing up and the enemy hasn’t completed its preparations.”
“The enemy (Israel) is thinking about evading a war instead of launching one.”
Concerning the situation in Syria, Roknabadi told the newspaper that President Bashar Assad began the reforms even before there was an international demand to implement them. “We see fake armed groups that are after sedition… Syria is targeted because it supports the resistance and it is an Iranian ally,” he said.
The Iranian ambassador noted that his country is satisfied economically and politically “which enables it to protect its sovereignty and confront the western sanctions through self-sufficiency in most areas.”
Roknabadi rejected some statements hinting that there’s “fear that Iran wants to dominate or threatens the region or the Persian Gulf.”
“U.S. and Israel are pumping money (into the region) to create a scare from an Iranian Persian rule, or Faqih rule… to stir sectarian strife in the region,” he said.
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