British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the UK Government must “act now” to stop a crisis with Iran’s regime from escalating after a British tanker was seized earlier this month by the regime, a UK Member of Parliament has insisted.
Matthew Offord MP demanded action be taken now against Iran’s regime, according to Britain’s Express.
Express.co.uk on Sunday reported on the major Free Iran march in London over the weekend by supporters of the main democratic Iranian opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), otherwise known as the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK).
The Express wrote: “On July 27, some 3,000 Iranians living in the UK demonstrated on the streets of central London, demanding comprehensive sanctions against the mullahs’ regime.”
Dr. Offord was among numerous lawmakers and personalities that addressed the rally by MEK supporters.
He told the chanting crowds: “The decision by world powers to decouple human rights and terrorism from the nuclear deal was a mistake and missed opportunity.
Along with deteriorating international relations, the regime in Iran is accused of severe human rights violations and barbaric treatment – especially of prisoners, such as that of Britain’s own Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, The Express wrote.
“I know that many of my cross-party colleagues in both houses of Parliament agree with this assessment as we face growing aggressions from the regime in the Persian Gulf, seizing a British tanker in violation of International Law,” Dr. Offord said.
“Our response must be firm and result in a firm, principled policy towards the regime that hold its leaders and IRGC to account for these atrocities.
“I believe the UK Government must now act to proscribe the IRGC and the Ministry of Intelligence as terrorist organisations in their entirety in response to Teheran’s aggression.”
The Express.co.uk report added:
Banners and flags were unfurled on Saturday as the defiant crowds chanted message against the regime.
Thousands of people descended on Trafalgar Square, many of whom were exiles who were forced to flee from their homes under the brutal and oppressive regime.
The rally was just one of dozens being held across Europe and Washington, with protestors demanding action is taken to halt the regime.
But as the rally took place in the British capital, Iran snubbed a diplomatic initiative by Oman to mediate in the tanker dispute.
Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, told the Omani diplomat: “Some of the region’s countries have not only removed the possibility of talks because of hasty and arrogant moves and behaviour, but have also made managing regional crises a serious challenge.”
He added the “interfering” British plan for a European initiative to escort tankers in the Gulf “will achieve nothing but increase problems”.
But the protestors were unperturbed, despite the snub.
NCRI’s president-elect Maryam Rajavi called on Britain and Europe to stop “paying ransom to the mullahs” in a speech projected onto a screen at Trafalgar Square.
She added: “We urge Britain, Europe and all governments to halt giving concessions to the mullahs.
“Do not help them decrease the sanctions. Stand up to them. Place the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the mullahs’ Gestapo (MOIS), Khamenei’s office and Hassan Rouhani on the terror list.
“I specifically urge the new UK government to support human rights, namely the suppressed human rights of the people of Iran.
“I urge them to take action to send an international fact-finding mission to Iran to visit the regime’s prisons and the political prisoners particularly, the women,” Mrs. Rajavi added.
Source » ncr-iran