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Boris Johnson gaffe: Foreign Office attempts to repair damage with Iran Foreign Office attempts to repair Boris Johnson damage with Iran
(35 minutes later)
The Foreign Office is studying a package of measures to ease relations with Iran before a visit to Tehran by Boris Johnson that has been billed as the foreign secretary’s chance to win the release of the British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.The Foreign Office is studying a package of measures to ease relations with Iran before a visit to Tehran by Boris Johnson that has been billed as the foreign secretary’s chance to win the release of the British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
On Friday, the Foreign Office was playing down chances of a breakthrough in the visit later this year and stressed that any measures to ease Anglo-Iranian relations had already been under consideration before Johnson said that Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been “simply teaching people journalism” in Tehran. Her family and employee have always said she was on holiday. On Friday, the Foreign Office was playing down chances of a breakthrough in the visit later this year and stressed that any measures to ease Anglo-Iranian relations had already been under consideration before Johnson said that Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been “simply teaching people journalism” in Tehran. Her family and employer have always said she was on holiday.
The Iran government and media seized on Johnson remarks, made at a foreign affairs select committee hearing last week, to claim that he had revealed the truth about her activities in Iran.The Iran government and media seized on Johnson remarks, made at a foreign affairs select committee hearing last week, to claim that he had revealed the truth about her activities in Iran.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe had already been sentenced to five years in prison and Iranian officials had threatened to add extra charges even before Johnson’s remarks to MPs. However, his error have given Iranian hardliners a further incentive to take a tougher line.Zaghari-Ratcliffe had already been sentenced to five years in prison and Iranian officials had threatened to add extra charges even before Johnson’s remarks to MPs. However, his error have given Iranian hardliners a further incentive to take a tougher line.
The Foreign Office faces a dilemma because any package of measures designed to ease relations was likely to have been proposed regardless of Johnson’s mistake. The political danger is that proposals will now be seen as an attempt to buy her release and ease the pressure on Johnson’s own career. There is also no guarantee, given the complex rival power bases in Iran, that any deal struck with the Iranian foreign ministry would hold sway with the judiciary or the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.The Foreign Office faces a dilemma because any package of measures designed to ease relations was likely to have been proposed regardless of Johnson’s mistake. The political danger is that proposals will now be seen as an attempt to buy her release and ease the pressure on Johnson’s own career. There is also no guarantee, given the complex rival power bases in Iran, that any deal struck with the Iranian foreign ministry would hold sway with the judiciary or the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
The key areas for discussion are likely to be the Iranian claim for billions in compensation for Iranian firms that had assets frozen during the era of sanctions, a full easing of banking restriction for Iranian companies and individuals operating in the UK and, most difficult of all, an easing of the threat of US-imposed sanctions on companies that operate in Iran.The key areas for discussion are likely to be the Iranian claim for billions in compensation for Iranian firms that had assets frozen during the era of sanctions, a full easing of banking restriction for Iranian companies and individuals operating in the UK and, most difficult of all, an easing of the threat of US-imposed sanctions on companies that operate in Iran.
Johnson took the unusual step of travelling to Washington this week to challenge Donald Trump’s view that the Iranian nuclear deal should be abandoned.Johnson took the unusual step of travelling to Washington this week to challenge Donald Trump’s view that the Iranian nuclear deal should be abandoned.
The Guardian understands that Iran believes that the Foreign Office package would help to resolve outstanding issues. Iran would want the measures to be announcedbefore the foreign secretary’s visit, so it would not appear they were designed to secure the release Zaghari-Ratcliffe or alleviate the cost to Johnson’s standing. Iran has not made any specific demands in return for her release and believes any explicit attempt of an exchange deal could backfire.The Guardian understands that Iran believes that the Foreign Office package would help to resolve outstanding issues. Iran would want the measures to be announcedbefore the foreign secretary’s visit, so it would not appear they were designed to secure the release Zaghari-Ratcliffe or alleviate the cost to Johnson’s standing. Iran has not made any specific demands in return for her release and believes any explicit attempt of an exchange deal could backfire.
Since nuclear-related sanctions against Iran were lifted in January 2016 following the nuclear agreement, Tehran has faced serious obstacles in reconnecting to the global market. The UK, in particular, is seen by Tehran as reluctant to take concrete measures to reassure the market about business with Iran or resolve the ongoing banking issue.Since nuclear-related sanctions against Iran were lifted in January 2016 following the nuclear agreement, Tehran has faced serious obstacles in reconnecting to the global market. The UK, in particular, is seen by Tehran as reluctant to take concrete measures to reassure the market about business with Iran or resolve the ongoing banking issue.
Nearly two years on, no tier-one European bank is prepared to do business with Iran because of fear of falling foul of the US Treasury and its existing sanctions relating to terrorism and human rights. Some smaller European banks, mostly those with no US exposure, have started handling Iranian payments but the atmosphere in the UK is such that even the Iranian embassy, which reopened in August 2015 after a four-year hiatus, has not been able to open a bank account.Nearly two years on, no tier-one European bank is prepared to do business with Iran because of fear of falling foul of the US Treasury and its existing sanctions relating to terrorism and human rights. Some smaller European banks, mostly those with no US exposure, have started handling Iranian payments but the atmosphere in the UK is such that even the Iranian embassy, which reopened in August 2015 after a four-year hiatus, has not been able to open a bank account.
No UK bank currently deals with Iran and only a few business agreements have been attempted between Iran and the UK since the nuclear accord, but none appear to have succeeded so far in attracting necessary finances or materialising.No UK bank currently deals with Iran and only a few business agreements have been attempted between Iran and the UK since the nuclear accord, but none appear to have succeeded so far in attracting necessary finances or materialising.
Iran is frustrated that the UK has not been able to bring even RBS, which is majority-owned by government, into business with Iran and is irritated by the fact that London is becoming a hub for a network of exiled Iranian television channels. At least five, including BBC Persian - which is the most loathed by the Iranian establishment - operate out of London. Tehran feels it is sending a message to those working for the networks by keeping Zaghari-Ratcliffe in prison on accusations of training journalists on behalf of BBC Persian.Iran is frustrated that the UK has not been able to bring even RBS, which is majority-owned by government, into business with Iran and is irritated by the fact that London is becoming a hub for a network of exiled Iranian television channels. At least five, including BBC Persian - which is the most loathed by the Iranian establishment - operate out of London. Tehran feels it is sending a message to those working for the networks by keeping Zaghari-Ratcliffe in prison on accusations of training journalists on behalf of BBC Persian.
The Iranian judiciary, which is responsible for handling the Zaghari-Ratcliffe case, has fiercely opposed any pressure from other countries over its human rights record. A visit to Tehran in 2014 by the EU’s former foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton irritated Iranians because she held meeting with a number of prominent human rights activists, including Narges Mohammadi, who has since been jailed for 16 years.The Iranian judiciary, which is responsible for handling the Zaghari-Ratcliffe case, has fiercely opposed any pressure from other countries over its human rights record. A visit to Tehran in 2014 by the EU’s former foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton irritated Iranians because she held meeting with a number of prominent human rights activists, including Narges Mohammadi, who has since been jailed for 16 years.