Tehran, SAEDNEWS: Any given two states that start rapproachment after shutting down embassies in each other's capitals to resume diplomatic ties are naturally expected to mend damaged trust, and hence take good care to send ambassadors who enjoy high skills in tact and diplomacy, well known for their diplomatic records and achievements to show they really mean to mend trust of their country of mission, rather than sending an 007 colleague, specially if that country of mission is Iran where the British diplomatic record since the Qajar dynasty nearly two centuries ago has made the population so distrustful of London that they blame Britain for every clamity, calling it "The Old Fox".
But London's new pick for the high-level post has been so disrespectful for such norms that it's moving in the opposite direction and has even driven Nour News, the media outlet of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), to voice not only exclamation, but also doubt and suspicion over the new ambassador appointed to head the mission in Tehran.
In an editorial on Monday, the outlet said Britain has turned into a core base of hostilities towards Iran, and any Iranian envoy has a job check list standing against him to carry out during his mission in London in a bid to stop or pullout the long roots of enmity towards Tehran, including reclaiming London's forty-year-long overdue debt to Iran (IMS case), "violation of the rights of the Iranian people, specially perfidy of Britain in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), oppressive sanctions of the United States and full compliance of Britain and European troika with those sanctions".
Protest to the "official presence of terrorist groups in Britain and their activities against the Iranian people, including extensive activity of MEK terrorist group, monarchists, separatist armed groups, etc. attack by these terrorists against Iranian voters living in Britain in recent Iranian election as well as shortcoming and silence of British government in this regard, activity of anti-Iran Persian language TV networks in that country which try to incite and encourage people to rioting and anarchy through falsification and lying", it added, and went on to say that Iran's new ambassador to London Mohsen Baharvand has a similar list of duties to pursue now in London.
Yet, it further noted the background of the new British ambassador to Tehran, Simon Shercliff, to show surprise and express serious doubt and suspicion about the envoy's covert mission in Iran.
"For the past two decades, he has been actively involved in all crises in the Southwest Asia region with diplomatic cover. He was sent to Iraq at the height of the military occupation. He was assigned in Afghanistan during war on this country. Later he was appointed as British ambassador to Yemen right in the middle of Saudi Arabia's heavy invasion on Yemen while he was stationed in Riyadh and was cooperating with the aggressor," the editorial said.
"Mr. Shercliff's background at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office is also interesting. Among all, he has been president of National Security Office and former head of National Counter-Terrorism Security Office. It is good to be reminded that Shercliff’s close friend and colleague -Richard Moore - who was political director of British Foreign & Commonwealth Office and former British ambassador in Turkey, has been recently appointed as the chief of British foreign spy agency MI6. Now, Moore is sending his favorite former colleague to Iran," it said.
The editorial noted exchange of agents and diplomats between MI6 and the foreign policy apparatus of Britain, and noted the case with John Sawers who worked as an ambassador and diplomat to various countries for years, but was suddently moved to head the MI6.
"When Sawers was appointed as MI6 chief, he explicitly stated that in any way, Iran must be prevented from achieving nuclear capability and only few days later, an Iranian nuclear scientist was assassinated in Tehran," it added.
"Iran has banned British Council activities in Iran due to widespread and destructive illegal actions. But now the country will host a British ambassador whose wife - Emma Cole - has held important positions in British Council for years in countries such as Nigeria and Ukraine. She has managed cultural infiltration projects in the name of gender equality, women empowerment and etc."
It noted that the British foreign policy is a reminder of bitter memories in Iranian history "such as the great famine - 1917 to 1919 - that caused death of more than nine million Iranians, August 9,1953 coup d'etat, colonial contracts, military occupation of Iran in World War II, supporting Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussain in the imposed war against Iran, interference in the internal affairs of Iran, supporting rioters in 2009 as well as oppressive sanctions on Iran".
"Currently the main question that arises is what purpose London seeks in Tehran by appointing a high-ranking intelligence officer as their next ambassador. British Foreign & Commonwealth Office had better think twice before claiming it is after improving bilateral relations with Iran. They need to respond clearly to these ambiguities surrounding their so-called diplomatic activities and destructive approach toward Tehran," it added (Source: FARS NEWS).
Pres. Raisi missions MFA to take steps to increase, accelerate import of vaccines
