Iran slams ‘irresponsible’ UK decision on Hezbollah

By Muhammet Kursun

TEHRAN (AA) – Iran on Saturday denounced as “irresponsible” a U.K. decision to classify Lebanese group Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

“UK's irresponsible measure not only fails to help improve stability and security in Lebanon but also tends to ignore a large group and its legal representative in an independent country,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said in a statement cited by the official IRNA News Agency.

“Hezbollah is a social and popular body which enjoys constructive and active presence in Lebanon, like the country's other parties, participates in elections and conducts official activities,” he said.

The spokesman said that Iran considers Hezbollah as a legitimate and rightful organization.

On Thursday, Britain’s parliament voted to officially add Hezbollah to a list of terrorist organizations.

As of next Monday, membership in -- or support for -- the group will be considered a criminal offense in the U.K., carrying sentences of up to ten years in prison.