On May 2, a parliamentary debate was held in the United Kingdom’s House of Commons on Iran’s human rights situation. The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, James Cleverly, was present and answered questions. Several MPs, including Nicola Richards, raised concerns about human rights violations in Iran and specifically mentioned the devastating role of the regime’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC).
James Cleverly acknowledged the seriousness of the human rights issues in Iran and stated that the UK raises violations at all appropriate opportunities, as well as via their embassy and directly with Iranians in London. In response to the regime’s most recent crackdown on protests, the UK has announced more than 70 new sanctions, and they continue to work with their partners to hold Iran accountable at the UN Human Rights Council and the General Assembly. He also mentioned that the IRGC is sanctioned in its entirety and certain individuals within its leadership.
“Human rights issues in Iran remain at the heart of the UK’s strategy towards Iran. We raise violations at all appropriate opportunities, as well as via our embassy and directly with the Iranians here in London. In response to the regime’s most recent crackdown on protests, we have announced more than 70 new sanctions, and we continue to work with our partners to hold Iran accountable at the UN Human Rights Council and the General Assembly,” he said.
Nicola Richards raised concerns about the IRGC’s responsibility for human rights abuses and referred to some of the regime’s most recent crimes, including reports of 582 executions last year and chemical attacks against 90 girls’ schools in recent months. Richards urged the Foreign Secretary to acknowledge the sense of urgency that so many parliamentarians have about proscribing the IRGC which would improve and protect lives in both Iran and Britain.
Cleverly acknowledged the concerns raised by Richards and reiterated the UK’s commitment to improving Iran’s human rights record. He stated that any decision to proscribe the IRGC would be cross-governmental and that the UK would always take action that is in the best interests of the safety of British nationals at home and abroad. The UK’s wider objective is to put pressure on Iran to improve its human rights record.
Cross-party MPs increasing demand for the UK Gov't to proscribe the IRGC referring to the criminal IRGC's role in exporting regime's terrorism & violent crackdown on the nationwide uprising.#IranRevolution#مرگ_بر_ستمگر_چه_شاه_باشه_چه_رهبر
https://t.co/XG3KeAxYoz— Dowlat Nowrouzi (@DowlatNowrouzi) February 1, 2023
“We have responded to Iran’s completely unacceptable behavior by sanctioning the IRGC in its entirety and certain of its leaders specifically. We will always take action that we believe to be in the best interests of the safety of British nationals at home and abroad, and of course, we always keep options available and under review,” he emphasized.
“We always keep our options under review, and we will always take the action that we believe to be in the best interests of the safety of British nationals at home and abroad and in pursuit of our wider objective, which is to put pressure on Iran to improve its human rights record,” he added.
Amid ongoing protests in Iran, the question of blacklisting the IRGC has gained traction in European nations. If enacted, this move would put an end to the misguided appeasement policy that has plagued European policy for far too long. This policy has only served to bolster the IRGC’s power and influence, allowing this terrorist entity to control Iran’s economy and utilize its national wealth to spread terror abroad and suppress the Iranian people inside the country.