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DiplomacyLondon evokes reprisals following the execution of an Iranian-British
The United Kingdom does not rule out further reprisals once morest Iran following the execution of an Iranian-British accused of espionage.
London does not rule out further retaliatory measures once morest Iran following the execution of an Iranian-British accused of spying for British intelligence, Foreign Secretary James announced on Monday. Cleverly.
“Now we must, together with our allies, consider the next steps we will take to counter the growing threat from Iran. We are not limiting ourselves to actions already announced,” James Cleverly told the House of Commons. Despite pressing requests from parliamentarians, the minister however refused to indicate whether the United Kingdom intended to place the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic, on the list of terrorist organizations. A spokesman for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had also told reporters earlier that the government was “considering additional actions” with its allies.
After the execution on Saturday of Alireza Akbari, 61, a former official in the Iranian Ministry of Defense and an Iranian-British national, the United Kingdom responded by sanctioning the Attorney General of Iran Mohammad Jafar Montazeri. London also summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires in the country and “temporarily” recalled its ambassador to Tehran.
“The execution of Mohammad Jafar Akbari comes following decades of repression by a ruthless regime,” said James Cleverly, assuring the UK’s support for the Iranian people who “demand rights and freedoms”. “We are witnessing the vengeful actions of a weakened and isolated regime, obsessed with the annihilation of its own people, weakened by its fear of losing power and ruining its reputation in the world,” he added. “Our message to this regime is clear: the world is watching you and you will be held accountable, especially to the brave people of Iran,” Cleverly said.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani responded on Twitter that Alireza Akbari’s execution was Tehran’s response to “the UK’s action which violated the national security of the Islamic Republic. of Iran”. He added that the reaction from London and human rights NGOs “shows their lawlessness and illegality”.
James Cleverly was also questioned in Parliament by MP Andy Slaughter, from the Hammersmith constituency in which Mohammad Jafar Akbari lived, who told him that according to the daughter of the deceased, “the (Iranian) regime refuses to return Mr. Akbari or to authorize his burial in a place chosen by him”. “We will continue to support the family in every way possible and it is absolutely normal to call on the regime to treat Mr. Akbari following his death with due regard and respect,” replied James Cleverly.
(AFP)
