“While the Zionist regime [of Israel] is a terrorist regime, putting Hezbollah’s name on the list of terrorist organizations is a source of disgrace for the Union,” Hojjatoleslam Kazem Seddiqi told worshippers in Tehran on Friday.

“Why does the European Union refuse to put the name of Zionist regime on its list of terrorist organizations, as it (Israel) does evil everywhere, and has committed so many terrorist [acts] which it is proud of,” he asked, addressing thousands of congregation at Tehran University campus.

On July 22, the European Union's 28 foreign ministers unanimously agreed to put Hezbollah’s military wing on the union’s blacklist.

The move, which came under diplomatic pressure from Washington and Tel Aviv, sparked public outrage in Lebanon and prompted top Lebanese officials to demand that the decision be overturned.

“We deem this move by the European Union as immoral, illegal and inhuman, and condemn it,” Seddiqi stressed, noting that the ban will not harm Hezbollah and will bring the ultimate shame to the EU.

He praised the Lebanese resistance movement as a popular movement which enjoys widespread support among Muslims across the world.

The cleric hailed Hezbollah as a defense movement which managed to put an end to the “invincibility myth of the Zionist regime’s army”, referring to Hezbollah’s victory in a 33-day war Israel waged on Lebanon in 2006.

He also highlighted the EU’s double standards given its 2009 decision to remove the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) from its list of terrorist organizations.

MRKD/NJF