Iran Summons Dutch Envoy over ’Baseless’ Accusations against Tehran

By Staff, Agencies

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned the Dutch ambassador to convey Tehran’s strong protest to “baseless" accusations leveled by the Netherlands against the Islamic Republic.

Emiel de Bont was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Director General of the Western Europe Department Alireza Yousefi on Friday.

During the meeting, Yousefi rejected anti-Iran claims made by a spokesperson for the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and the summoning of the Iranian ambassador to the Foreign Ministry of the European country.

The Dutch Foreign Ministry's move is a "flagrant and unacceptable" blame game, he noted, saying the party that must be held accountable for harboring criminals and terrorists is not morally fit to pin accusations on others.

Yousefi also called on the Dutch Foreign Ministry to play a constructive role in the developments in West Asia by adopting a professional and respectful approach to bilateral relations with Iran.

The Dutch ambassador, for his part, said he will convey Tehran's protest to his government.

On Thursday, the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service, known as the AIVD, claimed in its annual report that Iran was behind two assassination attempts in Europe.

The accusations led the Dutch Foreign Ministry to summon the Iranian ambassador.

In a statement, the Iranian Embassy in the Netherlands said that the AIVD's anti-Iran claims are "nothing more than an attempt by certain individuals to play the victim and gain political leverage or status from the host government.”

Iran, which is itself the biggest victim of terrorism, has a stronger commitment than any other country to combat terrorism in all its forms, it added.