FNA - Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Moussavi rapped High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell for his remarks against the human rights situation in Iran, saying that he has been fed with "wrong and biased" information.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran denounces any instrumental and political use of human rights against independent states," Moussavi said on Tuesday after Borrell criticized Iran for what he called as violent behavior towards protestors.

He underlined that respect for people's rights is one of the principles and necessities of national security for the Islamic Republic of Iran, adding that its performance in the past 40 years indicates seriousness in enhancement of human rights in the country.

Moussavi said public protest is a given and recognized right of the people in Iran, but misusing this right to attack people and public properties is not tolerated as the French police did not tolerate such a behavior by protestors.

He called on the European Union to pay serious attention to the violation of human rights in some of its member states or allies, comply with its nuclear deal undertakings and stop violating the rights of over 80mln Iranian people by the US sanctions.

On November 15, the government raised Iran’s extremely cheap gas price in order to moderate the national consumption rate, which stands at 110 million liters per day, 40 million liters above the maximum domestic requirement.

The government also announced a number of aid and subsidiary programs to protect vulnerable households from the adverse effects of the measure.

The price reform, required by Iranian legislature and essential as US-imposed sanctions seek to deplete Iran's budgetary resources, had been long delayed due to concerns regarding the move's probable backlash.

The measure's adoption prompted initially peaceful protests, but riotous elements, abusing the situation, quickly entered the scene, destroying public property, setting ablaze banks and gas stations among other facilities, and opening fire on people and security forces.

Intelligence reports and eye-witness accounts showed that the rioters who had taken advantage of public protests against gasoline price hikes to stir chaos in the country were armed with different weapons.

The protest rallies of Iranian people against the gasoline rationing turned violent since the first hours of the gatherings after the rioters used weapons.