TEHRAN – Iran reacted strongly against the publication of a sacrilegious cartoon of Prophet Muhammad (S) in some Swedish newspapers.

“The disrespect of religious beliefs and ethical values is unacceptable,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told a press briefing on Tuesday.
He described the move as unethical and provocative and called on the Swedish government to deal seriously with such actions which go against human rights.
He regarded the negative effects of such actions as dangerous, insisting that the beliefs and values of the followers of all faiths should be respected.
Mehmanparast also warned about the repercussions of such blatant disrespect to religious sanctities.
--- Iran raps Israel over synagogue reopening
Mehmanparast also deplored Israel’s move in reopening a synagogue near al-Aqsa mosque, demanding that the international community take action against such an act.
Israel on Monday reopened the Hurva synagogue in East Beit-ul-Moqaddas (East Jerusalem) as part of what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Israel’s “heritage,” Press TV reported.
The move has sparked protests by Palestinians in the holy city and elsewhere in the West Bank. Clashes have also been reported between the police and angry Palestinians.
Mehmanparast said the move is a “catastrophe that has distressed the Islamic world.”
He said the world community was expected to stand up against the move.
“We condemn the move and call on the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Arab League and the United Nations to take appropriate measures to stop this occupying regime,” he said.
He also condemned Israel’s plan to increase settlement activities.
Israel announced last week that it would build 1,600 new settler houses in East Beit-ul-Moqaddas. The announcement came as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited the occupied lands to revive the so-called Mideast peace talks.
Mehmanparast said Biden’s visit was not aimed at stopping settlement activities, rather it was a “cover-up” for Israeli actions