Back Iranian protesters over nuclear deal, West told

Former German diplomat says sanctions should be toughened over Iranian crackdown

A protest in Berlin in solidarity with demonstrators in Iran. A former German diplomat wants protests in Iran to take precedence over an accord on nuclear weapons. EPA

Support for human rights in Iran is more important than a nuclear arms deal, according to a former German diplomat.

Wolfgang Ischinger, who has served several chancellors, said concessions to the government in Tehran appeared to be a “slap in the face” to anti-government protesters.

Talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers have stalled for months.

Iran’s relations with the West have taken a turn for the worse as sanctions were imposed in response to repression of human rights protesters.

The UN said thousands have been arrested and hundreds killed during protests that are now in their fourth month.

Mr Ischinger, former chairman of the Munich Security Conference, said a revived nuclear deal could embolden the Iranian government at home.

“A negotiated text has been on the table for a while, but Tehran has so far shown no signs of accepting this offer and switching off its enrichment centrifuges,” he wrote in newspaper Handelsblatt.

“In the current situation, therefore, any western deference to the regime in Tehran would surely feel like a slap in the face to Iranians fighting for their freedom.”

Protests in Iran — in pictures

Iranians protest in Tehran after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the morality police in September. AP Photo

Protests have intensified despite a vicious government crackdown that has left as many as 200 people dead, although estimates of the toll by rights groups vary. AP Photo

At least eight members of the security forces have also been killed or wounded during the unrest and there are signs that violent resistance could be intensifying. AP Photo

A fire burns at the office of the governor of Mahabad, in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran. AFP

Protesters gather in the a courtyard of Chitgar complex in western Tehran. AFP

Iranian protesters continue to defy a deadly crackdown by security forces. AFP

A woman cuts her hair at the grave site of Nika Shahkarami in the city of Khorramabad, during a reported memorial held to mark 40 days since the death of the 16-year-old. AFP

A woman not wearing a headscarf stands on top of a vehicle as thousands make their way towards Saqez, Mahsa Amini's home town, to mark 40 days since her death in police custody. AFP

Iranian riot police prepare to confront protesters the capital, Tehran. AFP

Iranian protesters surge forward amid clashes with riot police in Tehran. AFP

A crowd blocks an intersection during a protest to mark 40 days since Amini's death in custody. AP Photo

Iranian police arrive to disperse a protest in Tehran. AP Photo

Protesters chant at a vigil for Amini at the Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology in Tehran. Reuters

Students at Sharif University of Technology attend a protest. AP Photo

Police outside Sharif University during a student protest. AP Photo

Students at the university protest over the death of Amini, who was in 'morality police' custody for allegedly breaking strict rules on head coverings for women. AP Photo

The students' banner says: 'No to mandatory hijab'. AP Photo

Mr Ischinger said the draft nuclear deal between Iran, the US, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany should remain on the table.

But he called for tougher EU sanctions “without regard to the nuclear deal”, to show solidarity with protesters and punish Iran for supplying drones to Russia.

The West should “lay down a marker that people bravely protesting at risk of their lives will not be left in the lurch”, he said.

Britain and the EU signed off on more sanctions this week linked to the arms deal with Moscow.

The US said last month that the nuclear deal, formally the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was not a priority while the Iranian protests continue.

Iran was committed under the JCPOA to limiting its nuclear enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief.

Since the US withdrew and reimposed sanctions in 2018, Iran has openly stockpiled and enriched uranium beyond what the JCPOA allows.

Tehran said its nuclear activities are peaceful but the UN’s nuclear watchdog said it cannot verify this until its inspectors are given more access to Iranian facilities.