Iranian Government Spokesman: Protests Against Jack Straw's Visit Will Create Internal Sanctions

As protests from the Student Basij and groups of conservatives continue against the visit of Jack Straw, former British Foreign Secretary, the Iranian government spokesman warned that these actions would "automatically create internal sanctions." According to the Iranian Labor News Agency, ILNA, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht emphasized on Tuesday, November 5, that "a few individuals should not act in the streets in a way that scares the other side and creates conditions for the return of sanctions." Mr. Nobakht, referring to the Supreme Leader's emphasis on lifting sanctions in the Vienna nuclear agreement, added: "If some people create conditions in the streets that make entering Iran associated with fear, this will automatically create a sanction." He stressed that "those who are interested in the system will not allow such actions and necessary measures will be taken to prevent these behaviors." Jack Straw arrived in Tehran on October 27 and has traveled to Yazd, Shiraz, and Isfahan. On the evening of Sunday, November 3, about one hundred people gathered in front of the hotel where Mr. Straw was staying in Isfahan in response to his visit. Ahmad Salek, the representative of Isfahan, and Hossein Zolnoavar, the representative of Shiraz in the parliament, also protested against the former British Foreign Secretary's visit. In contrast, the state news agency IRNA, on Tuesday, criticized these actions and stated: "The question here is whether foreign tourists should know before traveling to Iran that they must coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the police of Iran or with street extremists." Iranian Foreign Ministry officials have announced that Mr. Straw's visit to Iran was recreational and personal. However, the Tehran Great Student Basij, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, described the characterization of this trip as recreational as a "political joke" in a statement on Tuesday. During Hassan Rouhani's inauguration, there were reports in the media about an invitation to 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 negotiating with Hassan Rouhani, who was Iran's nuclear negotiator at that time. After the beginning of Hassan Rouhani's term, Mr. Straw stated in an interview with Radio Farda that "in dealing with the new government in Iran, we must accept that we are witnessing a new approach from the leader of Iran towards the new government. We must believe the situation as we see it. An election took place in Iran that had a surprising result for the people and a very heavy mission for Dr. Rouhani."