Foreign Ministry: No Timeline Can Be Predicted for Establishing EU Office

Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, stated on Monday, November 8, that the establishment of a European Union office in Tehran is not a new discussion and added, "No timeline can be predicted for the realization of this matter." According to ISNA news agency, Mr. Qasemi noted that the second round of negotiations between Iran and the EU will be held on Wednesday at the deputy level in Brussels, and there are many topics on the agenda for discussion, including the establishment of the EU office in Tehran. However, this official from the Foreign Ministry indicated that the examination of this issue, like some other topics raised between Iran and the EU, is "time-consuming." Bahram Qasemi added that "the issue of forming an EU office in Tehran has been raised in the past, sometimes forgotten, and at times addressed more seriously." One day earlier, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, stated that internal processes for establishing the EU office in Tehran are underway and that this will take place within the next few months. Additionally, according to ISNA, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry mentioned that in the new round of talks between Iran and the EU, "the challenges and issues that hinder the faster expansion of relations and how to resolve them" will be discussed. According to Iranian officials, the EU currently has two diplomats at the Dutch embassy in Iran. Majid Takht-Ravanchi, on Sunday, November 7, referred to this matter and told ILNA that "the reason these two diplomats have been sent is that in the past, EU activities with Iran were not significant enough to require one or more diplomats stationed in Tehran to follow up on activities." He noted that Iran is in contact with the EU regarding this office and is pursuing the matter. Mr. Takht-Ravanchi emphasized the necessity of establishing the EU office in Tehran, stating, "In the new environment, when work enters a more cooperative space, you cannot leave the work to a European ambassador because that ambassador is already sufficiently occupied in bilateral matters and cannot plan for the activities of a European commissioner who has come to Iran and organize the documents that are to be exchanged between the two sides. Therefore, a new structure is needed. The discussion of establishing the EU office in Tehran has recently emerged in response to comments made by Mohammad Javad Larijani, the Secretary of Iran's Human Rights Headquarters, affiliated with the judiciary. This judiciary official described the EU office as a "den of corruption" and stated that this judiciary "will not allow the EU to establish an office in Iran." However, he mentioned that "if this office is for following up on commercial matters, there is no problem." The Secretary of Iran's Human Rights Headquarters accused the EU of wanting "to establish an office in Tehran to have close contact with human rights defenders and NGOs to ensure the implementation of human rights in Iran." Mohammad Javad Larijani also stated that Europeans, in the matter of human rights, "do not have the authority to say that Iran should reform itself while they are full of violence and human rights violations." Typically, officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran always respond to criticisms from European countries and the US regarding the human rights situation in Iran by accusing these countries of human rights violations. The comments made by the Secretary of Iran's Human Rights Headquarters were expressed in response to the approval of the resolution "Roadmap for Normalizing EU Relations with Iran Post-JCPOA" in the European Parliament. This resolution emphasized the expansion of trade and political relations between Iran and the EU while referring to the achievements of the nuclear agreement with Tehran. Resuming discussions with Iran on human rights issues, including freedom of expression, ending the execution of juveniles, drug-related issues, and respecting citizens' rights, were among the issues mentioned in this resolution. Part of this resolution stated that respect for human rights must be considered in all investment agreements. Efforts to reduce tensions between Tehran and Riyadh were also among the points raised in the European Parliament resolution. In response to the approval of this resolution, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, described the EU's efforts to normalize and develop long-term relations with Tehran as indicative of the positive will of this institution. Nonetheless, Mr. Qasemi stated, "Referring to some issues that do not align with the existing realities of the Islamic Republic of Iran and are based on differing views of European culture cannot significantly contribute to the development of relations between the two sides."