Aftershocks of Human Rights Discussion During Mogherini's Visit to Tehran

The one-day visit of the EU's foreign policy chief, which began on Saturday, has concluded, and Ms. Mogherini has left Tehran after meeting and discussing with Iranian officials. What has highlighted this visit in the media is Ms. Mogherini's remarks regarding the human rights situation in Iran. In a joint statement issued by Iran and the EU on Saturday in Tehran, there was mention of entering into 'human rights dialogues' without detailing the specifics of these discussions. On Saturday in Tehran, Ms. Mogherini stated regarding the human rights issue in Iran that 'it is no secret that we have concerns in this area.' Mohammad Javad Zarif also mentioned in a press conference on Saturday that the issue of human rights in Iran is among the topics discussed by both sides. While moderate and government-supporting newspapers in Tehran welcomed the EU foreign commissioner’s visit, seeing it as the beginning of a new era in relations between Iran and European countries, hardline newspapers were upset that Ms. Mogherini raised the issue of human rights in Iran. The newspaper Javan, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, wrote on Saturday: 'There is information indicating that Mogherini packed her suitcase for her trip to Iran with a direct mission regarding establishing dialogue in the field of human rights, and this was not a coincidental topic but a pre-designed plan.' On the other hand, Saeed Rezavi Faqih, a political activist and former member of the Office for Strengthening Unity, who was arrested two years ago upon entering Iran and is currently on leave from prison, has written an open letter to Ms. Mogherini detailing the situation of political prisoners in the Islamic Republic's prisons. He urged the EU foreign policy chief not to make 'the blood of young Iranians and the young and elderly prisoners in Iran, whom Mr. Rezavi Faqih calls the 'great prison,' a bargaining chip for increasing the volume of trade contracts and lucrative deals.' Hassan Nayeb Hashem, a human rights activist in Austria, told Radio Farda about the importance and impact of this visit on the human rights situation in Iran, stating that human rights dialogues with Iran could have a positive effect on the human rights situation in Iran. Ali Mohajoubi, head of the office of the Deputy Parliament of Germany in the EU, also mentioned in an interview with Radio Farda that the expansion of cooperation and relations between Iran and the EU is positive, stating, 'One of the characteristics of the EU's foreign policy has been its weakness.'