Will Iran allow the EU to open shop in Tehran?
Iranian politicians are divided on the new EU Parliament resolution that favors normalization of ties with Iran.
The European Union Parliament passed a resolution Oct. 25 calling for normalization of relations with Iran — a decision that Tehran cautiously welcomed.
In response to the resolution, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said that the EU Parliament seeks "renormalization and expansion of long-term relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran." He added, "This shows the positive will of the European entity for extending and deepening all-out bilateral relations with Iran."
However, the day after the resolution passed, the chief of the Iranian judiciary’s Human Rights Council, Mohammad Javad Larijani, said, “There are a lot of flaws in the resolution. … The document regards Iran as a market for the sale of European goods.”
Noting the EU's plans to establish an office in Tehran, Larijani added, “It would be no problem if this office pursues trading issues, but they have stated that after establishing the office, they want to establish close contacts with human rights advocates so they can ensure the process of human rights implementation. Thus, they should know that the judicial system will definitely not allow such a nest of corruption to be established in Iran.”
