Petition against ‘possible’ Prince Charles trip to Iran
An Israel advocacy organisation based in the UK has criticised reports of a planned trip to Iran by Prince Charles.
We Believe In Israel said on Tuesday that it was “disturbed” by reports of a Royal visit to the Islamic Republic in autumn, after a ground-breaking nuclear deal led to a thaw in diplomatic relations.
“We do not consider it appropriate for a member of the Royal Family to visit Iran and give credibility to the Iranian regime,” the group said in a statement.
“Anti-Semitism is a core component of the [leadership’s] ideology… Senior Iranian figures have repeatedly called for the destruction of Israel… We call on the Foreign Office and the Prince’s private office to reconsider.”
In February, the British embassy began reissuing visas for Iranian nationals in the capital Tehran, while in March, President Hassan Rouhani’s chief of staff met British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in London.
Commenting on the meeting, Hammond said: “We are keen on taking practical measures for preparing the ground for the expansion of ties between the two countries.”
However, the Jewish community has repeatedly raised concerns about Iran’s human rights record and support for terrorist organisations in the Middle East, including Hezbollah, which has an array of weapons aimed at Israel from Lebanon.
You can sign the petition here.
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