UK lashes out at Iran, reiterates its support for protesters

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The UK’s foreign secretary slammed Iran on Monday, saying it continues to blame outsiders for its domestic problems instead of listening to calls within the country for change.

Speaking in parliament, James Cleverly said the recent execution of Alireza Akbari, a British-Iranian national who previously served as a senior defense official in Tehran, follows "decades of pitiless repression" by Iran.

"Instead of listening to the calls for change within Iran, the regime has resorted to its usual tactics of blaming outsiders and lashing out against its supposed enemies, including by detaining a growing number of foreign nationals for political gain," he noted.

According to the Iranian judiciary’s official news portal Mizan, Akbari was executed Saturday. He had been sentenced to death in an espionage trial for leaking secrets. Akbari and his family have denied the allegations.

Cleverly reiterated Britain’s support for Iranian protesters as "they demand their rights and freedoms."

Saying there are many European nationals who are being held in prisons by Iran, the foreign secretary stressed that they continue to work on their behalf and to secure their release.

Speaking on the supplying of armed drones by Iran to Russia, Cleverly said that in the last three months alone, the UK has imposed five separate packages of sanctions on Iran, while designations have been enforced against over 300 Iranian individuals and entities.

"Our message to that regime is clear: the world is watching you, and you will be held to account, particularly by the brave Iranian people, so many of whom you are oppressing, and killing," he added.