Downgrading ties with UK tops agenda

An Iranian lawmaker says the Parliament (Majlis) has reached the conclusion that the Islamic Republic should downgrade its economic and cultural relations with the UK.

Member of the Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Zohreh Elahian said the commission was initially considering cutting ties with UK due to London’s apparent interference in Iran’s post-election riots.

“There are evidence and documents pointing to the uncalled for involvement of the British Embassy in the post-election unrest. The support of the British politicians for the ‘green seditionists,’ testifies to direct UK meddling in Iran’s internal affairs,” She said.

She said that the decision had been made after holding several meetings with representatives from the Foreign Ministry.

Elahian pointed to the letter written by British Ambassador to Tehran Simon Gass to the chairman of the Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Alaeddin Boroujerdi in which the British official said any decision by the Iranian Parliament to downgrade ties with the UK “would be regrettable.” The British envoy claimed that Britain had not interfered in Iran’s post-election riots.

Deputy Head of the Commission Esmail Kowsari charged that the US and Israel gathered intelligence on Iran through the British Embassy in Tehran.

He pointed out that Britain’s meddling in Iran’s internal affairs dates back to the Pahlavi era.

Kowsari referred to launching the BBC Persian television channel and the participation of several British Embassy employees in post-election riots as examples of British interference in Iran’s internal affairs.

“The British ambassador’s letter to the chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, regarding the downgrade of relations, displays the weakness of the British government and its dependency on Iran,” he said.