Mike Freer: Britain can no longer ignore Iran’s abuse of human rights

Mike Freer is the Conservative candidate for Finchley and Golders Green.

Similar criticisms have been levied against the US, France, Germany, and other parties that were not involved in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action but that nonetheless eagerly sought to benefit from its re-opening of the Iranian market.

Has the post Brexit Britain left the UK so eager for new trading partners that policy makers are willing to overlook Iran’s behaviour – all for the sake of retaining Tehran’s interest in British investment?

But as the Iranian people strive to take advantage of the recent sanctions relief, the nature of their regime remains unchanged. Iranian hard-liners will not be content to simply embrace investment from Western partners that are relatively uncritical of the Islamic Republic.

Rather, they will strive to exert power over the UK and its close partners, in keeping with the mullahs’ self-perception as a bulwark against Western influence in the Middle East. Indeed, this sort of power play has already been evident in Iran’s behaviour since the conclusion of nuclear negotiations.