Secretary of the Parliamentary Commission: The EU Human Rights Office Contradicts Sovereign Principles

Mohammad Javad Kamali, the Secretary of the National Security Commission of the Parliament, stated on Tuesday, November 9, that the establishment of the European Union's Human Rights Office in Tehran contradicts sovereign principles. In an interview with Mehr News Agency, this parliament member described the opening of the EU's diplomatic office in Iran as permissible. Recently, the European Parliament issued a statement calling for the expansion of relations with Iran. The statement from the European Parliament mentioned that the EU wishes to have an office in Iran to deepen cultural, educational, commercial, and environmental relations with Iran and to enable better cooperation on human rights issues. The statement did not refer to the establishment of a separate office for human rights issues, but Iranian officials immediately reacted. Among them, Mohammad Javad Larijani, Secretary of the Human Rights Headquarters of the Judiciary, called this office a 'den of corruption' and stated that the judiciary would not permit its opening in Iran. Following that, Friday prayer leaders also took a stance against the opening of this office, calling it part of the Western 'influence' project in Iran. Mohammad Javad Kamali, Secretary of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Parliament, continued these criticisms on Tuesday, saying: 'It should be made clear to the opposing parties, especially the Europeans, that if they intend to engage in human rights negotiations with those who are convicted by the judicial system of the Islamic Republic, these negotiations will certainly face challenges.' Three years ago, Catherine Ashton, the then High Representative for Foreign Affairs of the EU, met in Tehran with Narges Mohammadi and Gohar Eshghi, the mother of Sattar Beheshti, a meeting that faced outrage from conservatives and seems to still be remembered. Despite all these oppositions, and in line with improving relations between Iran and the EU, the second round of negotiations between Tehran and the EU will begin in Brussels on Wednesday, which, according to Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Deputy Foreign Minister, will also focus on human rights. Representatives of the judiciary will also participate in these discussions. According to Mr. Takht-Ravanchi, Iran and the EU will discuss issues including energy, transportation, education, academic cooperation, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan, and banking cooperation. The first round of talks between Iran and the EU was held in February in Tehran. On Sunday, Majid Takht-Ravanchi stated that the EU office in Iran would be opened in a few months, but the next day, Bahram Qasemi, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, stated, 'We cannot predict a timeline for this matter.'