The British government is reconsidering its support for the nuclear deal with Iran following Saturday’s execution of British-Iranian citizen Alireza Akbari, accused of espionage, by the regime in Tehran, according to media reports.
Government sources have stated that the «landscape» has changed significantly since the start of the negotiations, and therefore, the UK would be evaluating its support for the nuclear deal with Iran as well as its future participation, senior sources have confirmed to ‘The Sunday Telegraph’ newspaper.
«During the time we have been negotiating, the outlook and the proposal have changed completely, largely due to the behavior of the Iranian regime,» the newspaper said.
The news of the death of Alireza Akbari has meant a significant escalation of tensions, which are added to those already existing since the beginning of the repression in Iran against the national protests over the death of Mahsa Amini.
In this context, the United Kingdom would have played a key role in the negotiations on the restoration of the nuclear agreement of the administration of former President Barack Obama, as it would have relaxed some of the restrictions against the Iranian regime in exchange for limitations to its nuclear program.
Downing Street has assured that «all options are being reviewed» in the framework of retaliation against the Iranian regime.
In this regard, the United Kingdom has also announced the imposition of sanctions against Iran’s attorney general, Mohamad Yafar Montazeri, for the recent executions of prisoners.
«Sanctioning him today underlines our displeasure with the execution of Alireza Akbari,» said British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, referring to the death of Alireza Akbari on Saturday.
For its part, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday the summoning of the British ambassador to the Islamic republic, Simon Shercliffe, as a sign of protest against the diplomatic reprisal launched by London.
«In response to the unconventional interventions of the United Kingdom, including in the area of national security of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Simon Shercliffe, the ambassador of this country in Tehran, was summoned to the Foreign Office by the Director General of Western Europe,» the official statement reads.
Alireza Akbari was considered by Tehran as one of the «most important agents» of MI6, the British intelligence service, and a «master of espionage». Akbari was Deputy Minister of Defense during the mandate of former Iranian President Mohammad Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005).
According to Akbari, he was allegedly drugged and tortured during his detention and interrogated for long periods, forcing him to make false confessions.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
