Iran's Judiciary Chief: If I Were the Government, I Would Not Allow the German Minister to Enter the Country

The head of Iran's judiciary described the statements made by the German Minister of Economy regarding human rights in Iran and the necessity for the Islamic Republic to recognize Israel as "illogical and incorrect," stating, "If I were in the government's position, I would not allow the German Minister of Economy to enter the country." According to IRNA news agency, Sadegh Larijani reacted on Tuesday, October 12, to the comments made by the German Minister of Economy and Deputy Chancellor, urging the Islamic Republic's president to "maintain the dignity of the people" and asserting that Iranian officials would not allow "people like the German minister to interfere in their internal affairs." He added, "I do not intend to interfere in the work of the respected government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs... but if I were in their place, I would not allow this minister to enter the country." Sigmar Gabriel, the German Deputy Chancellor and Minister of Economy, who visited Iran, had announced before his trip that he would inform Iranian officials of Berlin's concerns regarding Tehran's role in the Syrian war and the human rights record in the Islamic Republic. He emphasized that "Iran can only have normal and friendly relations with Germany when it recognizes the existence of Israel." In response, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated that the Islamic Republic would not accept "any preconditions" in expanding relations with Germany. Larijani further commented, "Apparently, he is dreaming and does not realize that Iran has endured a lot of pressure for over thirty years to resist such demands." He questioned whether this individual and the European Union do not see the killing of innocent people in Yemen by Saudi Arabia with U.S. support. On the same day, during Sigmar Gabriel's visit to Tehran, ten agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed between the two countries in the economic and banking sectors. Meanwhile, Mr. Gabriel stated that his goal for visiting Tehran was to assist President Hassan Rouhani's government in smoothing relations between Iran and the world, asserting that expanding economic cooperation could provide solutions to the complex issues between the two countries. Previously, Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, emphasized during a meeting with the Italian Prime Minister that the results of the visits and negotiations of European governments and companies with Iran after the Vienna nuclear agreement have not been noticeable so far. Last year's visit of the Iranian president to Italy and Paris resulted in the signing of several economic agreements between Tehran and Paris and Tehran and Rome, including a memorandum for the purchase of 118 Airbus aircraft from France. However, some close associates of the leader of the Islamic Republic have referred to Western sanctions against Iran as a "blessing" and criticized the agreements signed during these visits.