Following Jack Straw's Visit, Interior Ministry Warns 'Concerned' Individuals

After the Iranian government's spokesperson criticized the protest actions in response to Jack Straw's visit, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior advised the 'concerned' individuals to act within the law and warned that the ministry is obligated to deal with 'illegal gatherings' regarding this matter. According to the Iranian Labor News Agency, ILNA, Hossein Ali Amiri, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, emphasized on Wednesday, November 6, that 'any unlawful behavior' towards foreign delegations is 'not ethically acceptable' and also creates 'disruption' in the legal duties of the Ministry of Interior. He stated that when the Islamic Republic of Iran allows someone to enter the country, 'all relevant agencies must respect this decision and not act unlawfully against it.' Jack Straw arrived in Tehran on October 19 and traveled to the cities of Yazd, Shiraz, and Isfahan. Iranian Foreign Ministry officials have stated that Mr. Straw's visit to Iran was recreational and personal. However, on Sunday evening, November 3, about a hundred people gathered in protest against Mr. Straw's visit in front of the hotel where he was staying in Isfahan, a gathering that government-affiliated media described as 'illegal.' However, the Student News Agency, affiliated with the Student Basij, published a complete report on Wednesday regarding the protests by members of this organization and other groups against Jack Straw's visit to Isfahan. According to this report, following these protests, Jack Straw's presence at the Abbasi Hotel in Isfahan was canceled, and he went to the 'Atlas Hotel' in Shahinshahr, but ultimately, with the gathering held in front of this hotel, the former British Foreign Secretary 'did not stay in this city for more than a few hours.' According to this report, Mr. Straw ultimately stayed at the Kowsar Hotel in Isfahan. The Student News Agency also noted the readiness of the Basij student forces and the Islamic Student Society of Kashan to hold a protest gathering, announcing that Jack Straw's visit to this city was also canceled, and he ultimately returned to Tehran. Ahmad Salek, the representative of Isfahan, and Hossein Zolnoavar, the representative of Shiraz in the parliament, also protested the former British Foreign Secretary's visit. In this regard, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the Iranian government's spokesperson, warned on Tuesday that these actions 'will inherently create internal sanctions.' During Hassan Rouhani's inauguration, there were reports in the media about inviting Jack Straw to attend the ceremony, which faced opposition from some political factions and parliament representatives. Mr. Straw was the British Foreign Secretary during Mohammad Khatami's presidency and was one of the parties in negotiations with Hassan Rouhani, who was Iran's nuclear negotiator at that time.