Tehran: Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has called on the British government to seriously “reconsider” its diplomatic behavior toward the Islamic Republic of Iran. “The British government is well aware of Iran’s significant role in the Middle East; and therefore, in order to establish ties with Tehran, it has no option but to reconsider its behavior toward the Islamic Republic,” Salehi told IRNA on Thursday.The Iranian foreign minister also said that the current relationship between Tehran and London is not in satisfactory conditions, describing the “unacceptable” and “unjustified” behavior of the British statesmen regarding international developments as the main reason behind the low level of Tehran-London ties.
Salehi referred to the case of Nosratollah Tajik, an Iranian national arrested in the UK, and said that Britain can take a positive step in reconsidering its diplomatic ties with Iran by lifting the restrictions on Tajik.
Tajik, arrested in November 2006, is accused of allegedly trying to purchase night vision goggles for Iran from US mediators.
According to British media reports, undercover FBI agents who were acting as international military equipment dealers offered to sell Tajik night vision goggles valued over £50,000 while secretly filming him.
Tajik and his lawyers argue that the US agents planned to incriminate him from the beginning, as they were not following a legitimate lead.
In April 2008, the British High Court upheld a former ruling that Tajik should be sent to the US to face charges, forcing his legal team to launch an appeal.
Iran has considered breaking off relations with Britain several times due to London’s meddlesome and undiplomatic approach toward Tehran.
On June 11, British Foreign Secretary William Hague accused Iran of helping Syria quell anti-government protests, alleging that Tehran provides “equipment” and logistical support on how to crush the opposition in the Middle Eastern country.
His comments came after Britain’s chargé d’affaires in Tehran Jane Marriott was summoned to protest Hague’s false claims of Iran’s meddling in Syria.
The National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Iran’s Majlis (parliament) has meanwhile drafted a bill to sever all diplomatic ties with Britain.
