Iranian parliament votes to downgrade ties with Britain

TEHRAN, Nov. 24(MNA) -- The Iranian parliament overwhelmingly approved a proposal calling for a reduction in the level of ties with Britain on Wednesday. After the endorsement of the plan, the lawmakers chanted “God is the Greatest” and “Down with Britain.” Twenty MPs, namely Alaeddin Boroujerdi, Javad Jahangirzdeh, Hassan Kamran, Mohammad Ashouri, Esmaeil Kowsari, Mohammad Dehqani, Mohammad Saqaii, Abdolreza Torabi, Hassan Fouladgar, Hossein Fadaii, Mohammad Taqi Rahbar, Parviz Sorouri, Gholam Reza Asadollahi, Mohammad Hossein Farhangi, Ezzatollah Akbari, Shahrokh Ramin, Shahabeddin Sadr, Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabi, Jasem Saedi, and Moayyed Hosseini Sadr, signed the motion. The move came two days after Britain ordered all British financial institutions to stop doing business with their Iranian counterparts, including the Iranian central bank. The decision to impose the sanctions was made based on a report by International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano released on November 8, in which he claimed that Iran appears to have worked on designing an atomic bomb. A number of lawmakers had repeatedly called on the Majlis to ratify a plan to reduce or even sever diplomatic relations with Britain due to its hostile attitude toward Iran and its interference in the country’s internal affairs. On December 19, 2010, the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee voted to completely cut relations with London. The decision was then announced to the Majlis Presiding Board, but no final decision was made. Following is the text of the proposal: The British government once again showed its hostile policy toward the nation and government of the Islamic Republic of Iran by making its most recent hostile decision. Besides the dark record of the British government in regard to the Iranian nation before the victory of the Islamic Revolution, which is replete with treachery and crimes, the actions taken by this country after the victory of the Islamic Revolution are in line with the same policy, an example of which is (their) provision of full support to terrorist groups. Having normal relations with this country runs contrary to the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Foreign Ministry should reduce political relations with the British government to charge d’affaires level within two weeks to safeguard national interests and defend the rights of the Iranian nation and should reduce economic and trade relations to the lowest level. In the event the hostile policies of the country of Britain are revised, after reports by the Foreign Ministry and through the approval of the Majlis, relations will be upgraded. The Foreign Ministry is obliged to prepare a report about other countries that have adopted the same attitude as Britain so that the Majlis can make an appropriate decision. Majlis condemns London’s decision to sanction CBI In addition, 228 MPs issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the British government’s decision to impose sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran. “We, the representatives, condemn this unfair move and announce that such hostile measures have no impact on the strong will of the Iranian nation and government to continue on the right path of the Islamic Revolution, and we will not budge from the divine causes of the late Imam (Khomeini) and the Supreme Leader, and the countries of Britain and the United States will take the dream of the Islamic system’s retreat to the grave,” part of the statement read. British ambassador should be expelled In addition, on Wednesday MP Alaeddin Boroujerdi, who is the chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, called on the Foreign Ministry to expel British Ambassador Dominick John Chilcott.