CFI Parliamentary Chairman, Rt. Hon. Sir Eric Pickles MP on Thursday commented on the news that Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond will visit Tehran this weekend to reopen the British Embassy.
Sir Eric urged the Foreign Secretary to pose “strong representations to Iran that its well-documented support for international terror groups is wholly unacceptable” and express the UK’s concern at the regime’s ongoing human rights abuses.
The press release in full:
‘In the effort to improve relations with Iran, the Foreign Secretary will need to pose some difficult questions to Iran’s Government.
‘The Foreign Secretary must make strong representations to Iran that its well-documented support for international terror groups is wholly unacceptable. Just this week, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei vowed that the country will “take all possible means to support anyone who fights Israel”. Iran’s ongoing attempts to destabilise the region warrants unequivocal condemnation.
‘Iran’s human rights record is equally lamentable. The Foreign Secretary should express the United Kingdom’s horror at Iran’s surge in the use of the death penalty and suppression of even the most basic of human rights.
‘The P5+1 controversially opted not to discuss these issues during the nuclear talks. It is now the right time to be pressing these fundamental issues.’
