The Western approach to terrorism is based on double standards, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said on Wednesday in a speech delivered at the Institute for International Affairs in Wellington, New Zealand.

“The western approach towards the issue of terrorism is clearly based on double standard policies, racial discrimination, and inequality,” Hosseini stated.
Following is an excerpt of the speech:
In the Name of God The Compassionate, the Merciful
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very pleased to speak to you in this valuable gathering which is attended by scholars and learned people and held in this beautiful and green country. I will do my best to use this opportunity to elaborate on Iranian foreign policy with respect to its foundations and its performance over the past three decades.
Dear friends,
With advent of the Islamic Revolution in February 1979, change of ruling power in Iran represented itself not only as merely a change of power, but a new drive for establishment of an independent democratic system and introduction of a comprehensive example of religious democracy within a developing country based on Islamic ideology. With respect to the foreign policy, this example provides us with two basic features which include “rejection of domineering approach by others” and “rejection of domineering approach by itself”. Inspired by sublime teachings of Islam and enjoying historical experiences, the Islamic Republic of Iran has given priority to this basic policy and has included it within its Constitution as one of the Articles; the Article which explicitly defies acceptance of foreign dominance by the Islamic Republic of Iran and in return rejects Iran’s dominance over other nations. Establishment of peaceful relations with all countries has been the main principle of the Iranian foreign policy and based on which the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes establishment of its amicable and friendly relations with other nations on equal and brotherly basis. As a matter of fact, Iranian nation is calling for justice, peace, fraternity and equality for all nations in the world. Unfortunately, after World War II and following formation of new power equations in the international relations system, we witnessed emergence of a type of unjust and expansionist hegemony of certain domineering powers against other countries and nations. Especially after collapse of the Soviet Union, some of these powers, under slogan of “all with us or all against us”, tried to meet their domineering and unilateral objectives which are not in line with the policies of many independent countries including the Islamic Republic of Iran; those were the freedom loving and non-aligned countries that, being after the policy of multilateralism, practically formed a front against domineering powers.
Over the last three decades domineering powers did their best to employ various means to prevent spread of Iranian nation’s justice seeking ideologies and policies. The means included imposition of war and sanctions, making plots, promoting ethnic divisions, and using mass propagation against Iran.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Distinguished Participants,
Following September 11 terrorist attack in the U.S., certain powers neglected international mechanisms and rights of other nations, and adopted one sided approaches and attacked Afghanistan and Iraq. The pretext of anti-terrorism campaign provided them their required space for their efforts to take advantage of the wealth of Middle East countries including their oil and energy resources.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, that is seeking justice for all, expressed sympathy with all September 11 victims, but it was opposed to one sided acts in the international arena and called for promotion of the UN role in establishment of global peace, security and stability as the symbol of multilateralism.
What is going on now in Iraq and Afghanistan is the consequence of failure of domineering policies of the single superpower of the world which enjoys key elements of power including military hardware and spent billions of dollars to stir up tension, violence, insecurity and empower terrorists unlike its apparent call for democracy and anti-terrorism drive.
From the beginning, the Islamic Republic of Iran studied the main roots of the crisis and growing insecurity, identified them as occupation and terrorism, and called for adoption of a far-reaching policy away from one-sided approaches for finding sustainable solution to Iraqi and Afghan nations’ problems. In this respect, Iran has left no stone unturned to promote security inside Iraq and support the Iraqi people.
Today it has been proven that formation and emergence of extremist groups in Afghanistan and Saddam’s war mongering approach in Iraq have been the consequences of plans of the U.S. and certain domineering powers’ security and intelligence centers. Though Saddam and these extremist groups failed to realize goals of these domineering powers and even they went beyond the plans prepared for them, leading to their overthrow, but today unfortunately the occupiers, by taking suspicious measures are trying to interfere in the democratic process in Afghanistan and Iraq in order to bring back elements with black record into power. In Afghanistan, drug production has increased several folds, and behind the scenes, powers have prevented eradication of this plague and its replacement with other useful crops. This occurs while tens of thousands of foreign forces and units from NATO are presently carrying out their operations within Afghanistan territory.
As it has been admitted by U.S. experts, the five year period of war in Iraq has been the most shameful period of the U.S. history after Vietnam War and this country has waged the most expensive war after World War II by spending 3 trillion dollars. So far during the Iraq’s war more than 4000 U.S. soldiers have lost their lives and 30,000 more have been injured. This war has resulted in massacre, injury and displacement of millions of Iraqis forcing them to take refuge into the neighboring countries including Iran. All Iraqi infrastructures have been destroyed and different diseases have spread in many Iraqi cities and villages. I wonder if this tragedy can be effaced from the black record of human catastrophes of those who call themselves as sponsors of freedom, democracy and human rights?
Dear friends and colleagues,
Occupation of Palestinian territories and forced displacement of millions of innocent people during the last six decades still represent itself as a chronic crisis in the world. So far, many plans for settlement of this crisis have been proposed most of which remained limited to surface solutions without tackling its root causes. Today, when it comes to the issue of Palestine civilized values, concepts like democracy, freedom, the right to development, and rights of women and children become diluted. These values and concepts now are misused by certain powers only to push ahead their illegitimate goals, leading to gross spoil of Palestinian rights. The western approach towards the issue of terrorism is clearly based upon double standard policies, racial discrimination and inequality. Every day international media outlets broadcast new programs on massacre, displacement, sufferings and outcry of innocent people in the occupied lands but to no avail. It occurs while even if a number of western citizens face any problem or incident, heavy propaganda will be launched.
Recent developments in Lebanon and agreement of different political factions of this country was indicative of the capabilities of nations for managing their own crises and settling their internal problems without foreign interference and occupation of their territories which will be surely followed by adverse impacts. Continuation of Iraq’s occupation by the U.S. and its allies shows that they are merely after their own strategic interests in Iraq; this occurs while Iraqi nation and political factions have become so experienced that like Lebanese nation they can solve their own internal problems for reconstruction of their own country.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Nowadays the issue of Iranian nuclear activities has been raised and misused through biased and sensational propaganda by some domineering powers with the purpose to persuade other countries to pressure Iran to stop their activities in this field. Here I would like to sincerely express that the Iranian nuclear activities is taking place merely within the framework of NPT and IAEA Constitution and is so transparent that the U.S. sensational and unjust efforts to prevent the peaceful technical and scientific progress of the Iranian nation in this field has reached nowhere until now.
Those powers that are currently exerting pressure upon Iran in order to stop its peaceful activities in the nuclear field, during the Shah’s regime about 50 years ago, in 1957, were proposing construction of nuclear plants and installations to that regime and were extending their full cooperation in this field. Today, those who claim that they are promoting nuclear none-proliferation rules and regulations, are stock piling their nuclear weapons in their nuclear arsenals; they were those who provided Saddam and Zionist regimes with weapons used in massacre of innocent people.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has always been extending its full and close cooperation with international organizations and authorities in every field including the NPT and all its peaceful nuclear activities have been taking place under direct supervision of IAEA inspectors. In this respect the IAEA Direct General, in his periodic reports, for the 12th time, has already stipulated that no deviation in the activities has been witnessed and/or reported. With the purpose to remove all ambiguities and baseless allegations Iran has responded to all questions of the Agency within the modality plan, and still continues its technical and legal cooperation in this respect. Furthermore, in line with its confidence-building policies, Iran has so far had numerous rounds of talks with the 5+1 group’s representative. Our country’s recent package of proposals provides a comprehensive mechanism for settlement of various global problems with regard to the nuclear activities, human rights, global trade, coordinated campaign against terrorism, which can be used as solid basis for the future talks.
Dear colleagues,
Relations between Iran and New Zealand in all areas date back to 50 years ago. Though at the beginning the bilateral relations were limited to economic and trade cooperation but today our relations have been extended to other fields like technical, scientific, training and educational and political as well, all of which enjoy satisfactory volume and level. Similar position of the two countries towards many international issues in the recent years has provided the required ground for exchange of views and the two countries’ cooperation in different international forums and gatherings.
Exchange of visits of Foreign Ministers of New Zealand and Iran in 2002 and 2004 and signing of MOU for establishment of “Joint Political and Economic Cooperation Council, PECC” and holding of three joint meetings in Wellington and Tehran are examples of the two sides’ desire for expanding their mutual relations.
With respect to economic field, in addition to exchange of goods, we are witnessing implementation of certain energy related projects by New Zealand companies in Iran. Some talks are currently taking place on air navigation and communication cooperation as well.
The Conference on Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Islamic Republic of Iran which was held last year in Auckland and a similar conference which was held in Tehran by New Zealand, have provided suitable ground for the private sectors of both countries to become more familiar with each other’s relevant potentials.
With respect to science and culture, also, very good efforts are on the way for bringing the two nations closer to each other and to this end we welcome every measure which brings about promotion of tourist visits of people of the two countries. Of course thousands of Iranians, living in New Zealand, and their successful activities in various social, economic and cultural fields have provided us with very good opportunity to get the two nations further familiarized with each other. We also hope to further promote our scientific and educational relations through conclusion of six MOUs with different universities in New Zealand and by granting more New Zealander fellowships to Iranian students.
Thank you very much for your patience.
(Source: the Iranian Foreign Ministry)