UK Parliament
A number of Conservative MPs and Lords have this week condemned Iran’s violent treatment of protestors following the murder of Mahsa Amini by the Iranian “Morality Police” and broader destabilising activities. The parliamentarians called for a more robust UK response to the Iranian regime, including withdrawing the UK’s ambassador and proscribing the IRGC. Concerns were also raised that a renewed JCPOA, and the subsequent sanctions relief, would only embolden Iran’s malign activities at home and abroad.
In an Urgent Question secured by CFI Officer Bob Blackman, the Harrow East MP questioned whether it is now appropriate, alongside sanctions, for the UK to withdraw its ambassador from Iran and consider closing our embassy in the country. Mr Blackman also asked the Minister: “Does she not agree with me it would now be the completely wrong time to renew the JCPOA agreement and give Iran the capability to establish nuclear weapons? Does she also agree with me that it is now time to proscribe the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and their assets in the UK?”. Mr Blackman is one of seven individuals recently sanctioned by Iran for speaking out against the brutality of its regime.
CFI Parliamentary Chairman (Commons) Rt. Hon Stephen Crabb MP stated: “Murder and brutal repression internally, sponsorship of terrorism overseas, selling deadly drones that target civilians to the invading Russian army, the list of the crimes of the Iranian regime are very long indeed and when you look at these activities time and time again it is the role of the IRGC which comes up”. Mr Crabb said that it is “the strong view of this House that the IRGC should be proscribed in full as a terrorist organisation”.
Greg Smith MP discussed the danger presented by the terror group Hezbollah who have stockpiled over 150,000 missiles on the Israel-Lebanon border and asked the Minister “why we proscribe Hezbollah as a terror group, but not its financier and director the IRGC?”.
CFI Honorary President Lord Polak CBE also condemned the Iranian regime during a short debate in the House of Lords. Lord Polak is also one of the seven UK individuals sanctioned by Iran and stated during the debate: “Banned from a country that attacks its own people, beating women and children because they dare fight back against its oppressive laws, a country where peaceful protestors are dragged and beaten to death, a country that shuts down its own internet so the rest of the world cannot bear witness to the murderous brutality of the IRGC, a country that provides weapons and training to support Putin’s criminal acts in Ukraine – to be banned from such a country for standing up against its leadership, its terrorist actions and its treatment of its own people is indeed an honour”.
Lord Polak called for the IRGC to be proscribed as a terror organisation and discussed whether the UK could take a lead at the UN to ensure Iran is “immediately suspended and removed as a member on the commission on women’s rights”, for its brutal treatment of women and girls in the country.
