Hashminejad: Iran has endured the bitter reality of terrorism for decades

TEHRAN — Iran has endured the devastating consequences of terrorism for decades, with attacks targeting civilians, officials and critical infrastructure, said Mohammad Javad Hashminejad, secretary-general of the Habilian Foundation, at a ceremony commemorating the victims of terrorism.

Hashminejad said August 21 had been designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism nearly a decade ago, but stressed that Iran had experienced the consequences of terrorism long before the observance was established.

'From the early days of the Islamic Revolution, various groups carried out terrorist attacks,' he said. According to Hashminejad, after being driven out of Iran, some of these groups relocated their offices and activities to other countries, from where they continued campaigns of violence and terrorism against Iran.

He also cited the downing of an Iranian passenger Airbus by the United States and the sanctions imposed on Iran as examples of 'US state terrorism.'

Referring to the two most recent wars, Hashminejad said political and military officials had been killed, along with thousands of Iranian civilians, including children in Minab.

Hashminejad also criticized international organizations for their failure to adequately respond to the deaths of civilians. He said international institutions had “failed to pass” the test of protecting human rights, arguing that they had not even condemned the killing of children.