Iran FM calls for severing of cultural ties with Britain

Iranian FM Manouchehr Mottaki

Iranian Foreign Minister, Manochehr Mottaki says Britain has a “thick file of biased action” against Iran and therefore the foreign ministry is in agreement with complete severing of all cultural and educational relations with Britain.

In a press conference this morning, Tuesday, Mottaki said Iran-Britain relations need to be “redefined.”

Mehr News Agency reports that the Foreign Minister maintained that Britain was involved in Iran’s turmoil of the past year.

Islamic Republic authorities have often accused Britain and the US of fomenting the protests of the past year to the alleged fraud that brought Mahmoud Ahmadinejad back to another term at the presidency.

Iranian security officials arrested a number Iranian staff of the British Embassy in Iran in the post-election events. Hossein Ressam, one of these detainees testified in court that he was in contact with a number of reformist leaders. He also said that he was directed by the embassy to collect information about the protests.

Britain however rejected these accusations and threatened to reduce diplomatic relation with Iran if they refused to release their staff.

Iran-Britain relations have been questioned by a number of Iranian officials including a number of MPs who have condemned the fact that 300 children of top Islamic Republic figures are reportedly pursuing further education in Britain.