Director of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Ali-Akbar Salehi (Pic) has harshly criticized China over its yes vote on UN Security Council's (UNSC) new sanctions resolution against Iran.
In an interview with ISNA on Wednesday, Salehi described China's decision to vote in favor of the fourth round of UNSC sanctions against Iran as an indication that the West was "holding dominion" over the Beijing government.
"China used to call the US a paper tiger. I wonder what title is appropriate for China now considering its stance on the UNSC resolution for fresh sanctions on Iran," Salehi said in the interview.
The Iranian nuclear official went on to warn China about the consequences of its yes vote on sanctions, saying it would "lose its respected stance in the Islamic World and will wake up when it is too late."
Salehi also criticized members of the UN Security Council for their double standard policies.
"The double standard approach of several countries, in particular the UN Security Council members, have been revealed to the world [through this round of sanctions]," he stated.
The UNSC voted in favor of imposing a fourth round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program on Wednesday. Of the 15 UNSC member states Brazil and Turkey voted against the new round of sanctions, while Lebanon abstained from voting.
The fourth round of sanctions was adopted against Tehran over its uranium enrichment program -- which has been portrayed as a threat in the West despite repeated assurances from the International Atomic Energy Agency on the non-diversion of nuclear material in the country.
This is while earlier on Tuesday, 118 member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) voiced their support for Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
