TEHRAN (Iran News) –Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani says that the U.S., despite its claims of defending human rights, will not shy away from committing any kind of crime to achieve its illegitimate goals.

Kanaani made the remarks at his weekly press conference speaking about the anniversary of the U.S. attack on the Iranian Air Airbus in 1988 which lead to the killing of dozens of passengers.

Referring to the crimes that the U.S. regime committed against the Iranian nation, the senior diplomat stressed that the people of Iran will never forget the US support for the Saddam regime, the illegal cruel sanctions, and other US felonies.

On July 3, 1988, the USS Vincennes fired missiles at an Iran Air Airbus A300B2 which was flying over the Strait of Hormuz from the port city of Bandar Abbas to Dubai, carrying 274 passengers and 16 crew members.

Following the attack, the plane disintegrated and crashed into the Persian Gulf waters, killing all 290 onboard, among them 66 children.

U.S. officials claimed that the USS Vincennes had mistaken Iran Air Flight 655 for a warplane. This is while the warship was equipped with highly sophisticated radar systems and electronic battle gear at the time of the attack.

Answering a question regarding the normalization of relations between Tehran and Cairo, Kanaani cited that the Islamic Republic of Iran will welcome any positive developments in this regard.

Tehran will respond to any positive measures taken by the Egyptian government and authorities regarding the ties with Iran, he emphasized.

“Expanding relations with neighboring and Islamic countries in the region is the priority for the [Iranian] government’s foreign policy, and in this regard, we welcome any development and positive approach of neighboring and Islamic governments,” the foreign ministry spokesman continued.

Iran’s membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has a mutual benefit for both Iran and the SCO and its members, Kanaani stressed.

He went on to say that this positive development can increase the added value associated with the Shanghai Organization as an important regional organization, adding that Iran’s membership will be in line with the interests of all member countries and strengthen the process of regionalism.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Iran will be formally approved as a member of the regional Shanghai Cooperation Organization with China, Russia and Central Asian countries.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the senior Iranian diplomat said that the country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian will participate in the upcoming Non-Aligned Summit in Baku at the invitation of his Azeri counterpart.

The summit is of high importance for Tehran and FM Amir-Abdollahian will attend it at the head of a high-ranking delegation, Kanaani said.

Amirabdollahian will hold a bilateral meeting with his Azeri counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov in Baku, according to him.

The Non-Aligned Movement is an international organization that was formed during the Cold War as a response to the major powers, especially in the newly independent and developing countries.

The Islamic Republic of Iran officially joined this movement on 8 June 1979 after announcing its withdrawal from the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).

He also said that the atmosphere of relations between Tehran and Baku is positive following the diplomatic measures that were taken.

Referring to the ongoing aggression of the Israeli regime against the Palestinians, Kanaani strongly condemned the Zionists’ attacks and stressed Iran’s support for the Palestinians regarding their legitimate right to defend themselves.

The senior Iranian diplomat called on the international community to seriously fulfill their responsibility and take effective measures against the crimes of the Israeli regime.

“Crime is institutionalized in the nature of the Zionist regime. The latest crime in Jenin showed once again that peace and compromise cannot deter the regime’s war machine and that this regime is neither trustworthy nor seeking peace,” he said.

The spokesman also emphasized that the Palestinian nation has not committed any crime except defending its rights in the face of the occupying regime, predicting that the Palestinians will once again defeat the Zionist forces.

“The Palestinian nation’s defense of its right and resistance against the Zionists’ aggression will not reduce the responsibility of international bodies, including the United Nations and the Security Council, in this respect,” Kanaani added.

Kanaani said that Tehran’s efforts to pursue and prosecute anti-Iran terrorists are ongoing, slamming certain Western countries for supporting them, especially those affiliated with the Mujahedin-e-Khalq terrorist organization (MKO).

Iran has been pursuing terrorists, both politically and legally, in different ways, he added.

“We did not spare any effort to prosecute those who committed terrorist crimes against the Iranian nation,” he noted.

Kanaani slammed certain countries that claim to be advocates of human rights but instrumentally use terrorist groups, particularly the MKO, and host its meetings.

Speaking about the negotiations on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal and lifting anti-Iran sanctions, the senior Iranian diplomat cited that Iran continues to follow the path of negotiations and the continuation of consultations with the aim of securing the interests of the Iranian nation.

Kanaani added that the Western side has recently been slightly realistic and has shown constructive policies, but this is not enough for Iran.

Iran negotiates to achieve a final result from the negotiation table, he continued, adding that just as Tehran is ready to resume and conclude the negotiations in compliance with its red lines.

Tehran will continue to follow its balanced foreign policy in developing relations with different countries regardless of the status of the negotiations, Kanaani said.

Referring to the illegal sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran, he noted that Iran has never surrendered to U.S. sanctions and it never will.

“U.S. sanctions are a clear example of a crime against humanity. Iran will take measures to remove and neutralize the sanctions,” he concluded.