“The EU has sufficient evidence that IranAir delivered weapons to Russia, Syria or Yemeni rebels linked to Hamas,” the head of the delegation for relations with Iran in Parliament told Euronews European.
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Hannah Neumann heads the delegation for relations with Iran in the European Parliament. A German politician, she knows the Islamic Republic well. As part of her mandate, she wishes to maintain relations not only with the Iranian parliament, but also with the people of this Middle Eastern nation, who aspire to change and lasting peace.
Ms. Neumann is known for having criticized Josep Borrell’s line on Iran, considered too cautious with regard to the mullahs’ regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The German explains her point of view on the inclusion of this elite military group in a list of terrorist organizations, the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, the case of Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, the boycott of IranAir, the Europe’s relationship with new President Masoud Pezeshkian as well as a possible war between Iran and Israel.
Responding to questions from Euronews, she stressed that EU security agencies had sufficient documents showing that the airline IranAir had used its planes to send military equipment to the Houthis in Yemen, Syria and elsewhere. other theaters of war.
The Lithuanian parliament has listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Do you think the EU should do the same?
The central issue is that the Corps is terrorizing its own people in Iran and spreading terror in the region: which is why it is fair to consider it a terrorist group. I am happy that the Lithuanian Parliament has adopted such a resolution and I hope that the European Union will soon do the same. Fortunately, there is a consensus in the European Parliament on this subject. But for member state governments, the path will be a little more difficult.
You have criticized Josep Borrell on several occasions, how do you assess the positions of the one who succeeds the Spaniard?
Josep Borrell, as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has never considered this issue central. But I hope Kaja Kallas takes a different path.
How did your meeting with Ms. Kallas go? Some believe that given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU’s attention may shift more to that conflict than the Middle East.
What was discussed with Ms. Kallas during our recent meeting remains confidential. But in the public debate we will soon have in the European Parliament, some of the questions I asked will be raised.
However, I can point out that I discovered that she has a good knowledge of issues relating to the Middle East and that she seems less “cautious” than Mr Borrell.
How do you assess the election of Masoud Pehedekian as the new president of Iran and what will be Europe’s relations with him?
Many in the EU have said that when leaders are “chosen“ – I wouldn’t use any other term, because it’s difficult to talk about”elections” in Iran – we have to wait to judge. But so far, some behavior has proven to be different from words, which was confirmed by the recent execution of an Iranian-German citizen, Jamshid Sharmahd. This is also the reason why we must consider the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization.
What do you think of the situation of Elahe Mohammadi and Niloofar Hamedi, two Iranian journalists who revealed the death of Mahsa Amini?
They only did their job. They are excellent journalists who have worked to inform their community. But the government tried to silence their voices: the regime launched a psychological warfare operation against them, imprisoned them and then released them on bail (they are still threatened with re-incarceration – Euronews).
ADVERTISEMENTThe message to opponents and critics is clear: if you challenge us, we will destroy you physically or psychologically. The situation remains unresolved: Elahe Mohammadi and Niloofar Hamedi do not know if they will return to prison or for how long. What the Iranian regime is committing is an atrocious form of psychological torture. We will, in turn, continue to raise public awareness of this situation. And on the work of so many other journalists who, like them, try to tell the truth.
What is your perception of the headscarf bill adopted by the Iranian Parliament?
I don’t think it’s particularly problematic for the regime to pass one law after another aimed at controlling women’s bodies. The problem with this legislation is that it represents a form of oppression: it represents a further setback of women’s rights and has nothing to do with the defense of certain values. It is nothing other than an instrument of repression. The regime has also used the hijab in this way to consolidate its power in recent decades. The laws deprived women of their basic rights, independence and the ability to choose their lifestyle.
What about the situation in the Middle East? We have seen two Iranian missile barrages against Israel, and recently we have seen Israel attack Iran again. What is Europe’s position on this?
ADVERTISEMENTMany people in the region want peace. Not to mention the Israelis who took to the streets to demand peace, against their own government. The same goes for many Palestinian families who cannot stand the actions of Hamas, and for all those who want to stop the bombings in Lebanon.
I also think of the Iranian citizens who, after the recent attack carried out by their regime, sent messages of solidarity and friendship to Israeli citizens. This is the position that I think the EU must support. It remains to be seen how we can sanction institutions and individuals and, at the same time, how it is possible to support those who promote peace and those who have suffered, in Gaza as in Lebanon, the ravages of war and who have today in need of humanitarian aid. It’s not about taking sides: my emphasis is on promoting peace.
The embargo against IranAir has deprived some Iranians of the possibility of traveling with this company. Can you explain how this decision was made?
EU security services have obtained precise and credible information demonstrating that IranAir was transporting military equipment on its planes to certain war zones.
ADVERTISEMENTIn the same context, we can mention the sending of weapons to Russia which uses them in its murderous war against Ukraine. Then, this airline transports military equipment intended for the Bashar al-Assad regime to crush its own people.
Finally, there are documents reporting the sending of equipment to the Houthis in Yemen. We want this to stop. Because the people of all these regions want nothing more than peace.
What objectives are you pursuing with these sanctions?
By imposing these sanctions, we want to ensure that IranAir can no longer obtain spare parts for its planes and is not able to purchase new planes.
ADVERTISEMENTHowever, many people who used the company to travel to Iran are in difficulty.
Yes, I know this is a problem for some Iranian citizens. I know they have flown with IranAir in the US and Europe for years. This is why I insist that we must all take joint action against Iran to put an end to this regime’s repression.
