OPCW Hostage of Vested Interests

Iran’s representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) criticized the western countries for abusing the watchdog body to achieve their narrow political goals. “The OPCW is at stake and some delegations take this technical forum hostage for their political intent,” Ali Reza Jahangiri said in a statement at the 58th meeting of the OPCW Executive Council on Monday, Fars News Agency reported. The envoy condemned the US-led airstrikes on Syria as a “flagrant breach of international law and the UN Charter” which was carried out on 14 April “under the pretext of the use of chemical weapons, which has not yet been verified by this august organization.” Such military action will definitely undermine further the pillars of peace and security in the world… promote extremism and terrorism and hence more use of chemical weapons by terrorists in Syria,” he added. Jahangiri went on to add that Iran is cognizant of the important role of the OPCW-led fact-finding mission in Syria, in establishing the truth regarding the alleged use of chemical weapons in Douma, adding that the findings should rely on “verifiable and independent sources”.