Iran Embassy in Korea Requests to Stop Defaming Shooting Gold Medalist

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Embassy of Iran in South Korea has urged to stop criticizing their national representative Javad Foroughi, who won the gold medal in the men's 10m air pistol event at the Tokyo Olympics.

On the 30th, the Iranian Embassy issued a statement regarding the controversy that Foroughi is a terrorist, saying, "We request restraint from immoral, unsportsmanlike, and sportsmanship-violating slander and ask for appropriate measures to promote friendship between the two countries."

Some Israeli media outlets criticized Foroughi as a member of the Revolutionary Guard, a terrorist organization designated by the U.S. government.

Jin Jong-oh, who competed in the same event as Foroughi, also criticized, saying, "It seems the organizing committee did not prepare well. Isn't it absurd that a terrorist took first place?"

In response, the Iranian Embassy rebutted, "The Revolutionary Guard is the official military backbone of the Islamic Republic of Iran, protecting the homeland and people, and has played an important role in establishing security in the Middle East."

They added, "Without the efforts of the Revolutionary Guard members, terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) would have destabilized not only the Middle East and Europe but the entire East Asia region."