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'Blatant double standard': Iran blames 'Israel and US proxies' for Davos snub, links protest to 'genocide of Palestinians'

'Blatant double standard': Iran blames 'Israel and US proxies' for Davos snub, links protest to 'genocide of Palestinians'

Iran FM Abbas Araghchi Photograph: (AFP)

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Iran FM Abbas Araghchi criticised the World Economic Forum after his Davos invitation was cancelled over Iran protests. He accused WEF of double standards, alleging Israeli officials were still welcomed despite Gaza killings, calling the move politically driven.

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday (Jan 20) lashed out at the organisers of World Economic Forum in Davos after they cancelled his appearance amid ongoing protest in Iran against the regime. Araghchi claimed that his invite was cancelled based on “lies and political pressure from Israel and US based proxies.” Linking the situation in Iran to that of Palestine, the Iranian foreign minister said that the invitation to Israeli officials have not been cancelled despite “genocide of Palestinians” by Israel. Calling out the “blatant double standard”, Araghchi also said that the decision against Iran shows the “intellectual bankruptcy” of the organisation. Abbas Araghchi was scheduled to speak on Tuesday during the annual gathering of the global elite at the upscale Swiss ski resort town.

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"The Iranian Foreign Minister will not be attending Davos," the World Economic Forum said on X. "Although he was invited last fall, the tragic loss of lives of civilians in Iran over the past few weeks means that it is not right for the Iranian government to be represented at Davos this year," it added. Norway-based Iran Human Rights have reported that it has verified the deaths of 3,428 protesters killed by security forces. The NGO warned that the true toll is likely to be far higher, AFP reported.

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi slammed Israel in his post and wrote on X, “The sad irony: Israel's genocide of Palestinians and mass slaughter of 71,000 innocent people have not compelled WEF to cancel any invitation extended to Israeli officials whatsoever. In fact, Herzog even did a victory lap in Davos as early as January 2024, even as he faced criminal charges in Switzerland for the unfolding Genocide in Gaza.”

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Further, slamming WEF for its stance, Iranian foreign minister Araghchi said, "If WEF wants to feign a supposedly "moral" stance, that is its prerogative. But it should at least be consistent about it. The current blatant double standard only conveys moral depravity and intellectual bankruptcy. People have the right to know the truth and judge for themselves. Shame is solely reserved for those who think otherwise."

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Navashree Nandini

Navashree Nandini works as a senior sub-editor and has over five years of experience. She writes about global conflicts ranging from India and its neighbourhood to West Asia to the...Read More