British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt arrived in Tehran on Monday for the first time since taking office where he is expected to hold talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif on the future of the nuclear deal, Tehran's role in the conflict in Syria and Yemen, as well as human rights issues in Iran, namely the detention of British-Iranian dual nationals.
Before his visit, Hunt said: “More than anything, we must see those innocent British-Iranian dual nationals imprisoned in Iran returned to their families in Britain. I have just heard too many heartbreaking stories from families who have been forced to endure a terrible separation. So I arrive in Iran with a clear message for the country’s leaders: putting innocent people in prison cannot and must not be used as a tool of diplomatic leverage.”
Hunt, along with a political delegation, will stay in Tehran for a one-day visit, the first by a European foreign minister since the US pulled out of the deal.
Britain, France and Germany are tripartite supporters of the European Union's position to sponsor the nuclear deal. The three countries seek to activate a financial mechanism aimed at maintaining trade ties with Tehran away from dealing with the dollar.
Last week, the United States warned to impose sanctions on European firms and banks if they set off ties with Tehran.
Hunt's office said he would meet Iranian Foreign Minister and stress UK’s commitment to the nuclear deal as long as Iran sticks to its terms. He will also discuss European efforts to maintain nuclear-related sanctions relief.
"The Iran nuclear deal remains a vital component of stability in the Middle East by eliminating the threat of a nuclearized Iran. It needs 100 percent compliance though to survive," Hunt said in a statement ahead of the visit.
Hunt asserted that the UK will stick to its side of the bargain as long as Iran does, but “we also need to see an end to destabilizing activity by Iran in the rest of the region if we are going to tackle the root causes of the challenges the region faces."
Hunt will also use his meetings to pressure Tehran to improve its human rights record. He will demand the immediate release of two British-Iranian dual nationals on humanitarian grounds.
The Minster is also expected to discuss Yemen, and underline his concern at reports, documented by the UN panel of experts, that Iran has supplied ballistic missiles and weapons to the Houthis, in violation of security council resolutions.
On Sunday, Zarif avoided confirming his British counterpart's visit, saying the previously reported visit of UK Foreign Secretary to Tehran on Monday may not take place due to Hunt’s busy schedule.
“I am not sure yet that this trip will take place due to the fact that there are now discussions going on in the UK cabinet about BREXIT,” Zarif told Iranian Parliament news service ICANA.
He said the visit of UK foreign secretary to Tehran had been postponed in the past due to the same issue, however, Zarif noted that if the visit happens on Monday, “meetings with me and other relevant authorities will be held and if the trip is canceled, it will take place at another time in the future.”
In similar news, Iranian agencies reported that Hunt will meet with the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani after his negotiations with Zarif.
