Iran summons Swiss envoy to protest ‘baseless’ US claims on elections interference

Iran has summoned the Swiss ambassador, whose country represents American interests in the Islamic Republic, to protest claims by US national security officials that Tehran is seeking to influence the 2020 presidential elections.

According to Press TV, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh announced the measure on Thursday, advising Washington to stop playing “fruitless blame games, [leveling] baseless accusations, and [fabricating] suspicious scenarios,” and try instead to act like a normal country in relations with others.

“In addition to rejecting the repeated claims as well as fabricated, clumsy and fraudulent reports of US regime officials, the Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates that it makes no difference for Tehran which of the two current candidates will enter the White House,” he said.

The Iranian official slammed the “long history” of America’s attempts to harm the elections of other countries and said, “It is not far-fetched that the designers of such childish scenarios seek to divert public attention and make suspicious provocations before the [presidential] vote.”

Director of US National Intelligence John Ratcliffe alleged on Wednesday that Iran and Russia were attempting to influence American voters just two weeks from the November 3 polls.

Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations was quick to dismiss the accusations as “absurd,” saying, “Iran has no interest in interfering in the US election and no preference for the outcome. The US must end its malign and dangerous accusations against Iran.”

SS