Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French Senate Gilbert Roger stressed today, Tuesday, the need to take a tough stance on Iran’s behavior.
“There is no flexibility in our position”
Rouget added in an interview with Al-Arabiya that the committee has a list of detainees in Iran that it is working on, stressing that “there is no flexibility in Paris’s position towards the Iranian regime.”
He also added that dialogue with the Iranian regime is impossible, noting that Tehran is supporting Moscow with marches that kill civilians in Ukraine.
European step forward
Yesterday, France, Germany, Britain and Norway announced the recall of Iranian diplomatic representatives in protest against the ongoing crackdown on demonstrations and public executions that were carried out against demonstrators.
The Norwegian Foreign Ministry announced that it had summoned the Iranian ambassador accredited to Oslo to condemn the execution of demonstrators protesting the killing of Mahsa Amini. “Norway strongly condemns Iran’s execution of demonstrators Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini,” Norwegian Foreign Minister Anneken Hotveldt tweeted.
“We call on Iran to stop its suppression of human rights. Norway calls on Iran to respond to the protests with serious reforms and stop executions immediately,” she added. A ministry spokeswoman told AFP that a meeting with the Iranian ambassador would take place on Tuesday.
“It won’t go without consequences.”
And German Foreign Minister Analina Berbock announced that she had “again” summoned the Iranian ambassador to Berlin to protest the recent execution of two men in connection with the demonstrations, and warned during a press conference in Berlin that she intended to “make it clear that cruel repressions, repressions, intimidation of the population and recent executions – all this “will not pass without consequences.”
For its part, the British foreign secretary called Iran’s charge d’affaires to protest the new death sentences, and other European countries such as France, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands have announced similar measures.
Belgian Foreign Minister Haja Lahbib tweeted on Sunday: “Like other European countries, we will recall the Iranian ambassador,” saying she was “maddened” by the executions, and adding that “the European Union is considering new sanctions.” providing additional information.
“the strongest signal”
In turn, Denmark announced that it was summoning the Iranian ambassador to express its “anger,” according to what was announced on Sunday by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Loki Rasmussen, who told the local Ritzau news agency: “We are summoning the Iranian ambassador to a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to send the strongest signal that the violations committed against his people infuriate us.”
“The situation in Iran is very serious. It evokes different feelings, including great respect for some people who show great heroism in opposing a brutal regime,” continued Lokke Rasmussen.
Fourth package of sanctions
For his part, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra tweeted: “I will call on the Iranian ambassador to highlight our grave concerns and call on European Union member states to do the same.” He added that “the fourth package of sanctions against Iran is being prepared for the EU Foreign Affairs Council” scheduled for January 23, stressing “the need for a stronger response from the EU.”
According to a census compiled by Agence France-Presse based on official reports, the sentences announced yesterday raise the number of those on death row to 17 in connection with the protests that are rocking the country.
