Iran hits back at Germany over accusation of ‘destabilizing region’

Iran has hit back at Germany for accusing it of regional meddling, censuring Berlin for turning a blind eye to the United States’ interference in Western Asia.

News ID: 448237

Date: 01 January 2020 - 09:57

RNA - The German Foreign Office had in a Twitter post on Monday referred to recent developments in Iraq and accused the Islamic Republic of destabilizing the region.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi took to the same platform to respond.

“Germany is accusing Iran, wrongly and with deceit, of destabilizing the region while turning a blind eye to the illegal interference of the US as the main destabilizing factor in Western Asia,” Mousavi said. “The continuation of such positions casts serious doubt on Berlin’s claim of trying to play an effective role on the path of peace and stability.”

The German Foreign Office had also accused what it called “non-state militias” of threatening the stability of Iraq, in an apparent reference to the Popular Mobilization Forces, or Hashd al-Sha’abi, which has actively cooperated with the Iraqi army in sweeping counter-terrorism operations and which has been integrated into the state armed forces by law.

That came after the US conducted airstrikes on bases belonging to Kata’ib Hezbollah, which is a part of Hashd al-Sha’abi, near the Syrian border.

The Sunday aerial assaults killed at least 25 Kata’ib Hezbollah forces and injured over 50 others.

The US attack prompted massive public anger in Iraq. And on Tuesday, angry protesters marched on the US Embassy in Baghdad. American diplomatic personnel were forced to evacuate shortly afterwards.

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