Ball in British Court for improvement of ties with Islamic Iran

The British Foreign Secretary’s visit to Tehran provides a good opportunity to take stock of the past for the two sides in order to build health relations based on reciprocal goodwill. Iran’s English daily Kayhan International in its Viewpoint Column on Sunday, December 10 written by S. Nawabzadeh has made interesting comments on Boris Johnson’s meeting with Iranian officials titled: “Ball in British Court for Improvement of Ties with Islamic Iran.”

Kayhan International said: “Beware of the Old Fox”, is a famous saying among Iranians, who have no trust whatsoever in Britain in view of the irreparable harm done to Iran, its people, its national interests, its sovereignty, and its territorial integrity, over the past two centuries by the crafty colonial power of yesteryears.

It added: “Today the ‘Old Fox’ is without doubt a mere shadow of its colonial past but its cunning persists as it follows the present predator, the US, hoping to have for itself the leftovers of the carcasses after Uncle Sam has enjoyed a hearty meal. To this end soft-pedalling London normally acts as a front-runner to snare-in the weak for Washington.

“British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, who is in Iran for ‘goodwill’ talks with senior officials, has revived memories of a painful past for Iranians, who have not forgotten how Britain connived with Czarist Russia to impose the humiliating treaties of Torkmanchai and Golestan that separated Iran’s Caucasus territories; the loss of Herat and parts of Khorasan to Afghanistan; the absorption of eastern parts of Baluchestan in British India; the detachment of Bahrain to strengthen the Aal-e Khalifa pirates’ hold on that strategic island; the virtual military occupation of southern Iran; the installation of the detested Pahlavi regime on the Peacock Throne; the plunder of Iran’s natural resources, especially oil; the coup in alliance with the US to topple Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddeq; and the hostile policies of the past four decades following the triumph of the Islamic Revolution.”

According to Kayhan International “The list of British crimes against Iran and its people is long, and outside the scope of this Viewpoint Column which has pointed to a few outstanding instances, out of courtesy for the guest from London, who is welcome to state his regime’s views for positive upgrading of bilateral ties.

“Iranian officials will surely listen careful to what Boris Johnson has to say on so many issues of mutual interest, include trade and lifting of the illegal sanctions still in place in violation of the clauses of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA more than two-and-a-half years after conclusion of the nuclear deal with the 5+1 group of countries. 

“Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani, and Majlis Speaker Dr. Ali Larijani, have already met Johnson and exchanged interesting views on how Britain can be helpful in defusing tensions in our area by disassociating itself from Saudi Arabia’s state terrorism in Yemen with lethal weapons supplied by London to destroy the infrastructure of the Arab World’s poorest country and the unabated massacre of its civilians.

“The esteemed visitor has also been told that if not for Iran’s timely action in responding to the requests of the governments of Syria and Iraq to eradicate the cannibalistic Daesh terrorists, these dangerous Saudi created Takfiri criminals might have been knocking on the doors of Europe today.”

Kayhan International continued: “During talks held so far, Johnson may have realized that his remarks in London before landing in Tehran on what he called “Iran’s activities of concern in the region”, as well as his unwarranted reference to Iran’s internal matters, especially those concerning the judiciary and the cases of Iranian nationals, were nothing but naïve statements – perhaps for domestic consumption.

“He is not an official of the defunct British Empire that thundered ultimatums to the slavish Shahs or drew lines on the map of West Asia for creation of several spurious entities, chief among them Saudi Arabia and the illegal Zionist entity.

“Iranian officials will surely draw Johnson’s attention – if they haven’t still – to the unpardonable crime of Britain during its self-imposed League of Nations mandate over Palestine; the illegal settling of European Jews in and around the First Qibla of Muslims (Bayt al-Moqaddas); and the military aid, including atomic collaboration, to strengthen Israel as an outpost of western imperialism in the heart of the Muslim World, all of which has been catastrophic for humanity resulting in the unabated plight of the Palestinians, who continue to be killed at will and deprived of their birthrights by the Zionist usurpers.

This means, the recent decision by the US president to shift the American embassy to Bayt al-Moqaddas and the bloodbath it has unleashed, rests squarely on British shoulders, in view of the fact that it was London which planted the illegal Zionist entity in Palestine and left in limbo the vexing issue of Bayt al-Moqaddas which is sacred to the Muslims and Christians.

Kayhan International continued: “The British Foreign Secretary was right when he told the press in London before his visit: “Although our relationship has improved since 2011 with Iran, it is not straightforward and on many issues we will not agree.”

“You are absolutely right Mr. Johnson, there are several points on which we disagree, and the ball is in your court to improve ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran, since bilateral relationship is a two-way street.

“We don’t interfere in your internal affairs, and we expect you not to meddle in ours. We have no navies and bases in countries on the shores of the English Channel and the North Sea, and we don’t think you ought to have any in the Persian Gulf, or for that matter in the Gulf of Aden. We are not harbouring any elements plotting against Britain’s security, and which warrants London not to provide safe haven for terrorists active against the Islamic Republic. We have not questioned your legitimate means of defence, that is, the conventional weapons (not the illegal nuclear arsenal), and we say in clear words that you should avoid any provocative remarks regarding our right to develop our means of defence, including conventional ballistic missiles.

“If London is wise enough to rectify the mistakes of the past, a new chapter could be opened in Iran-Britain bilateral relations with the sky being the limit for upgrading of bilateral ties.”

AS/SS