In line with relevant accords, Tehran says

Geneva: Iran told a United Nations body on Monday that it fully respects human rights, denouncing concerns raised by the United States, Britain and France as political gestures amid a wider nuclear standoff.

In its first review by the UN Human Rights Council, which looks at the record of all UN member states one-by-one, Tehran's envoy Mohammad Javad Larijani said Iran was in "full compliance with the relevant international commitments it has taken on in a genuine and long-term approach to safeguard human rights".

Pressure tactics

Larijani, secretary-general of the Iranian High Council for Human Rights, suggested criticisms of Iran represented attempts to heap extra pressure on the Islamic state over its nuclear programme even as it insists on a civilian nuclear agenda.

Western countries have consistently used human rights "as a political tool to apply pressure against us and to advance certain ulterior political motives", he told the session.

The remarks come one day after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States saw few alternatives to more sanctions on Iran.