The Foreign Office has summoned the Iranian ambassador over the country’s response to protests against the ruling regime, Yvette Cooper has told the Commons.
The Foreign Secretary said she spoke to her Iranian counterpart yesterday, ‘setting out the UK’s total abhorrence of the killings, the violence, and the repression that we are seeing’.
Some 12,000 protestors have reportedly been killed by the Iranian regime since the protests began, according to claims made by Iranian opposition website Iran International.
The figures are much higher than previous reports, with an Iranian official admitting to Reuters today that around 2,000 people were killed in protests, blaming ‘terrorists’ for the deaths of civilians and security personnel.
It came after Keir Starmer last night refused to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organisation.
The Foreign Secretary told MPs that Iran’s claims that its domestic protests are due to foreign influence and instigation are ‘lies and propaganda’.
She said: ‘Just as they did in 2022, it’s absolutely clear the Iranian regime are trying to paint these protests as the result of foreign influence and instigation.
‘They’re using that accusation to try and whip up opposition to the protests amongst anti-Western Iranians and try to justify their vicious and sickening attacks on the ordinary civilians marching through the streets.
‘These are nothing but lies and propaganda being spread by a desperate regime.’
The Foreign Secretary said she spoke to her Iranian counterpart yesterday, ‘setting out the UK’s total abhorrence of the killings, the violence, and the repression that we are seeing’.
Some 12,000 protestors have reportedly been killed by the Iranian regime since the protests began, according to claims made by Iranian opposition website Iran International.
‘They must not be allowed to undermine a genuine grassroots movement drawing together people from all parts of Iranian society and spreading across multiple cities and regions.
‘And that is why we and other governments across the world are determined not to play into the hands of the regime or to allow our words or actions to be twisted to support their lies and propaganda…
‘The world is watching Iran, and the UK will continue to confront the regime’s lies, to call out its repression and to take the steps necessary to protect the UK’s interests.’
No 10 has condemned the brutal suppression of anti-government protests in Iran but pointed to comments by the former head of MI6 who suggested that a ban on the IRGC would have no ‘practical effect’.
