Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani. (IRNA)

Iran has strongly criticized the United States and its allies for imposing a fresh round of sanctions against the nation. These sanctions were imposed due to Iran's defense of its security and its response to Western-backed riots that occurred throughout the country last year.

On Friday, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union sanctioned numerous Iranian individuals and entities, alleging their involvement in suppressing or misrepresenting the events during last year's unrest.

Later in the day, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani condemned these sanctions as "unconstructive behavior," which he argued did not align with the Western countries' interests.

Instead, Kanaani suggested that the West should adopt a "new policy based on respect for the great and civilized Iranian nation, the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic, and the shared security and interests of both sides."

2022 riots fueled by foreign-backed elements

The unrest had erupted across the nation in September of the previous year, following the tragic death of a young girl named Mahsa Amini. She had fainted at a police station and was later declared dead at a Tehran hospital. Subsequent investigations attributed her death to a medical condition, dismissing allegations of police mistreatment.

Iran maintains that the 2022 riots were fueled by foreign-backed elements capitalizing on the incident.

In response to Western sanctions and accusations regarding Iran's handling of the riots, Kanaani asserted that the Iranian people and authorities would not be swayed by Western parties' malicious propaganda and actions when it comes to ensuring public security in the country.

Furthermore, he reminded Western states of their concerning records on human rights, characterizing them as countries that regularly engage in severe violence against their citizens, particularly women, as well as minorities, people of color, indigenous populations, and migrants.

Kanaani also pointed out that these countries consistently fail to muster the courage to genuinely protest or condemn the daily actions of the "child-killing Zionist regime."

Consequently, according to Kanaani, such states have no legitimate grounds to express feigned sympathy for the Iranian people.

Kanaani concluded his remarks by highlighting how Western states' provision of support and sanctuary for anti-Iran terrorist groups, such as the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO), responsible for the deaths of thousands of Iranians, contradicts their claims of advocating for the rights of the Iranian people.