Germany orders UK and US to turn screw on Iran on nuclear threat: 'MORE than problematic'
THE UK and EU are turning the screw on Iran over its nuclear programme, with Germany's foreign minister accusing Tehran of being "more than problematic".
A group of European foreign ministers, including Boris Johnson, are visiting Iran today to discuss nuclear programmes and protests.
German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel said Europe and the US should confront Tehran about its ballistic weapons programme and its role in Syria's civil war.
However he said a 2015 deal to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb must be preserved.
Mr Gabriel said: "We should separate two things from each other: we want to preserve the nuclear deal with Iran and the difficult role Iran has in the region.
"We want to speak with Iran about its role in the region, which is more than problematic.”
GETTY
Iran protests: Hundreds gather in Berlin and Paris calling for regime change
Sun, January 7, 2018Protesters gathered at Pariser Platz to show their support for the demonstrations in Iran and demand the release of political prisoners as well as the reinstatement of the Shah
Iranians living in France protest against the Iranian regime
Boris Johnson and the EU’s Federica Mogherini will meet Iran’s foreign minister today as nuclear tension and protests in the country escalate.
Mr Johnson will tell his Iranian counterpart demonstrators have an absolute right to protest peacefully in the country, which comes amid a brutal crackdown in Tehran and other cities.
More than 3,500 people have been arrested in protests against the Iranian regime, with 23 protestors and one police officer losing their lives in chaotic scenes.
The Foreign Secretary said he will be “making it clear to Foreign Minister Zarif, on the subject of the recent protests in Iran, that the right to peaceful demonstration within the law is central to any truly thriving society”.
Also high on the agenda will be Iran’s controversial nuclear deal, which Mr Johnson described as “crucial” to world peace.
The deal, which ended sanctions on Iran after Tehran conceded controls on its nuclear programme, has been threatened in recent weeks by US president Donald Trump.
GETTY
The UK, along with other EU states, are desperate to re-enforce the importance of the deal during today’s trip.
Mr Johnson said: “The UK has always been clear: the Iran nuclear deal is a crucial agreement that makes the world safer.
“It is vital that we continue to work with our European partners to preserve the Iran deal, and with it the security and prosperity it is bringing to the people of Iran and the world.
“It is those shared interests which will drive our discussions in Brussels.
GETTY
“Of course there are areas where we disagree with Iran, not least on its destabilising regional activity and its ballistic missile program. This will be an important part of our conversation.”
Various EU officials will also take part in the trip, including EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Mr Johnson’s counterparts in France and Germany.
Ms Mogherini is keen to discuss the nuclear situation in Iran but appears less inclined to support protestors.
Her aide Nathali Tocci tweeted this morning: “Just returned from trip to Iran. Disturbing mismatch between international media coverage and the situation on the ground one the past weeks.
“Ultraconservative attempt to fuel unrest that backfired, spilling into disparate economic grievance protests.
“But never approaching critical mass, certainly not deserving attention received on internattional media suggesting country was on brink of major political upheaval.”
Mr Johnson will also discuss Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British citizen detained in Iran.
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe visited family in Iran in 2016 but was arrested after she was accused of spreading propaganda against the regime.
Her situation was worsened when Mr Johnson said she was “teaching journalism” in the country - contradicting Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s story and fuelling Iranian anger.
