Western Criticism of Iran Crackdown Intensifies; Iranian Chargés d’Affaires Summoned in London and Paris

Amid escalating pressure from the United States and Canada on the Islamic Republic to halt violence against protesters in Iran, Britain and France announced they have summoned the Islamic Republic’s chargés d’affaires in London and Paris in protest of the “severe” and “brutal” crackdown on demonstrators.

Britain’s Foreign Office stated on Monday evening, October 3, in a statement that Mehdi Hosseini Matin, Iran’s top diplomat in Britain, has been summoned to the ministry due to the intensification of the crackdown on protests following the death of Mahsa Amini by Iranian authorities.

In the statement, quoting British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, it was stated: “The violence being perpetrated by security forces against protesters in Iran is truly shocking.”

Mr. Cleverly added: “Today we have made our position clear to Iranian authorities; instead of blaming external actors for the unrest, they must take responsibility for their actions and listen to the concerns of their own people.”

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, on Monday, after a long silence on the ongoing protest movement in Iran, described it as “the work of intelligence agencies and obstinate foreign policymakers” and as being “designed” by the United States and Israel.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary also emphasized on Monday: “We will continue to work with our partners to hold Iranian authorities accountable for the flagrant violations of human rights.”

The British Foreign Office statement also noted that Viji Rangrajpan, the Middle East Director General of the ministry, in a meeting with the Islamic Republic’s chargé d’affaires, emphasized Britain’s request for a complete and transparent investigation into the death of Mahsa Amini.

This British Foreign Office official called on Islamic Republic authorities to “respect the right to peaceful assembly, exercise restraint, and release protesters who have been unjustly detained.”

He also expressed Britain’s concern regarding published reports of the use of live ammunition in the crackdown on protesting students at Sharif University.

On Monday evening, simultaneously, France’s Foreign Ministry also announced the summoning of the Islamic Republic’s chargé d’affaires in Paris and stated: “France condemns in the strongest terms the continuation of the brutal crackdown on demonstrations in Iran.”

According to a statement issued by France’s Foreign Ministry, this summoning took place on Friday, September 30.

In the statement, referring to the increasing death toll in the Iranian protest crackdown and Paris’s demand for an immediate halt to the crackdown, it was stated: “France is shocked by the violence that has been used against demonstrators, particularly at Sharif University.”

On Monday evening, forces known as plainclothes personnel in Iran raided protesting students at Tehran’s Sharif University, injuring many and forcibly transferring dozens of students in security agency vans to unknown locations.

France’s Foreign Ministry emphasized: “Iran must respect freedom of peaceful demonstration and human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls—rights that are particularly guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Iran has accepted.”

The summonings of Iran’s chargés d’affaires in London and Paris come after Germany’s Foreign Ministry had previously summoned the Islamic Republic’s ambassador in Berlin due to the nationwide crackdown on protests in Iran.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday, September 26, in response to a question about the possibility of further sanctions against Tehran due to the crackdown on protests: “We will review all options with other European Union countries.”

Also, the summonings of Iran’s chargés d’affaires in London and Paris coincided with increased pressure from the United States and Canada to prevent the crackdown on protesters in Iran.

US President Joe Biden warned on Monday that Washington will impose “greater costs” on the Islamic Republic in response to the violent suppression of “peaceful protests” in Iran.

Simultaneously, Canada’s government announced the imposition of new sanctions against 9 entities and 25 individuals, including senior political officials, the Minister of Intelligence, senior commanders of the Revolutionary Guards and police force, as well as Evin Prison and the Morality Police.

Shortly before that, Reuters reported that Germany, France, Denmark, Spain, Italy, and the Czech Republic had submitted a package with 16 sanction proposals against the Islamic Republic of Iran due to the violent crackdown on popular protests in Iran.

The intensification of Western pressure on the Islamic Republic to respect human rights in Iran comes after Iranians residing in more than 150 cities around the world gathered last Saturday in demonstrations of thousands or tens of thousands, calling for the international community’s response to the crackdown on their fellow protesting citizens inside Iran.

Source: Radio Farda