Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Bagheri Kani who is in Delhi for bilateral talks with India said on Tuesday that 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, also known as Jina Amini, was not murdered. "Mahsa Amini was not killed. She passed away," he said. He blamed the West for "killing of Iranian daughters".
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Kurdish-origin Amini died in a hospital after being arrested for not wearing the hijab. She was hospitalised allegedly after being subjected to police brutality. Her death led to the rise of the prolonged anti-hijab protests in Iran. The protests are said to be the biggest in Iran's history.
"The atmosphere [of chaos and unrest] has been created by Western media. It [allegation of Mahsa Amini's murder] is baseless and fallacious. The rights of Iran are violated by these powers. The Western regime is responsible for the killing of Iranian daughters," Kani said.
BILATERAL TALKS WITH INDIA
Kani on Tuesday held bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Among the key topics of discussion were the promotion of trade via the Chabahar Port and US sanctions on Iran, Russia, and Venezuela.
Kani said: “The US and Western powers have imposed sanctions on Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. They have played a key role in destabilising the energy security of the world. Other governments must hold these powers responsible for the issues they have caused.”
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Kani alleged that the West gave chemical weapons to Saddam Hussein's regime, which "killed tens of thousands of the Iranian and Iraqi Sunni population". "But you do not see the reflection of any such news in western media. Women in Afghanistan were killed by US-made bombs. Girls and women in Palestine were killed at the hands of dynast regimes. Yemeni daughters were mercilessly killed in the past as a result of the imposed famine. But these are not reflected in news. They don't denounce or condemn this," he said.
"India and Iran are partners and complete each other. Iran enjoys huge energy resources and provides energy supplies to India. India is a major provider of food staples and helps Iran with the same," he said.
'CHABAHAR PORT CRUCIAL FOR COMPLETION OF INTSC'
Speaking about the Chabahar Port, Kani said: "The project important not only for Iran and India but it is also pivotal for other countries in our region. It is crucial for the completion of the International North-South Transit Corridor [INTSC]."
The INSTC is a 7,200-km-long multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road trade routes passing through India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe. The INTSC has so far seen a few dry runs and one official completion of delivery of freight from Russia to India.
With China pushing for the Belt & Road Project, the Chabahar Port in Iran has become strategically even more important for India's trade as it allows India to bypass Pakistan and engage in trade with Afghanistan. Currently, Pakistan doesn't allow Indian goods to pass through to Afghanistan. Strengthening India-Iran ties over the Chabahar port will also counter Chinese presence in the Arabian Sea region.
(With inputs from ANI.)