Iran’s execution of a disgruntled journalist on Saturday has strained Tehran’s relations with Europe, as the change of president in the United States raises expectations for a diplomatic opening between Iran and the West.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned German and French ambassadors following the European Union’s condemnation of the execution of journalist Ruholla Jam, who was sentenced to death in 2017 for inciting anti-government protests.
According to the IRNA state news agency, the State Department criticized European reports as unacceptable interference in domestic Iranian affairs.
The split is the second major setback in diplomatic relations between Iran and Europe in two weeks, before the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden reconsidered its US embargo on Tehran.
In early December, hardline Iranian lawmakers proposed legislation that would increase nuclear enrichment – which would be the worst violation of the 2015 nuclear deal – and restrict access to UN nuclear inspectors in the absence of sanctions. Raised by February.
If implemented, the law would affect efforts by the European Union and the government of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to oppose the bill to withdraw the 2015 agreement designed to limit and monitor Iran’s nuclear activities to ease sanctions. The deal has been in support of life since President Trump stepped down in 2018 and re-imposed tough sanctions on Tehran.
Mr. Amid the fall in bail execution, the Europe-Iran Chamber of Commerce canceled a three-day virtual conference scheduled to begin on Monday, which was funded by the European Union and convened by the International Trade Center and the Trade Development Organization for Iran.
Both French and German ambassadors, summoned by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, were to speak at the conference.
Mr. The execution of Jamin showed the willingness of Iranian authorities to override international opposition in repressing the country’s media and opposition activists, and demonstrated the access of its intelligence beyond the country’s borders.
He has lived in France since 2011. Jam, who runs the popular news channel Amat News on the Telegram messaging platform, used it to share news and logistics related to anti-government unrest in Iran in 2017, amid efforts by government security forces to suppress it.
Mr. Jam was drawn to Iraq in 2019, where he was captured by the Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s main security force, and engaged in the task of defending the state against foreign enemies and domestic opposition.
The son of a prominent pro-establishment clergyman, Mr. Jam made his first serious move with Iranian authorities during the Greens’ struggles during his arrest in 2009. After liberation, he left the country and later settled in France.
Mr. Jam was tried in Tehran’s Revolutionary Court this year on charges of “corruption on earth” and was frequently accused by opposition activists of working to overthrow the system. The court sentenced him to death in June and upheld his sentence last month, Judicial spokeswoman Kolam Hossin Esmail said Tuesday.
Mr. France on Saturday condemned the execution of Jam as “barbaric and unacceptable.” Execution and Mr. Germany said it was horrified by Jam’s abduction in Iraq.
Responding to the criticism, Iran’s Revolutionary Court said on Sunday that Mr Jam had pleaded guilty.
Mohammed Ali Jam, the father of the hanged journalist, said on Instagram that his son had led him to believe that he would be released in a prisoner exchange and that his confession was false.
Write Sune Angle Rasmussen at [email protected]
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