The International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ), representing over 4,000 bipartisan lawmakers from both sides of the Atlantic, expressed profound concerns regarding the European Union’s policy towards Iran. This expression of concern came on the eve of the scheduled negotiations involving the EU, UK, Germany, and France with the Iranian regime in Geneva on January 13, 2025.
In an open letter addressed to the EU leadership, the ISJ articulated its deep concerns over the grave human rights abuses perpetrated by the Iranian regime. This included the alarming escalation to over 1,000 executions since the beginning of 2024, with a significant portion occurring since Masoud Pezeshkian took office. The letter also highlighted the continued suffering of political prisoners like Saeed Masouri, who has been incarcerated for 25 years without a day of furlough.
The ISJ’s letter further addressed the Iranian regime’s use of hostage diplomacy, exemplified by the recent arrest of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala under spurious charges. While she was released due to international pressure, this tactic poses a direct challenge to international norms and the safety of foreign nationals operating in Iran.
The letter cited President Emmanuel Macron’s recent statement regarding the current state of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, “The acceleration of the nuclear program leads us nearly to the point of no return,” emphasizing the urgency of addressing these violations.
The ISJ urged the European Union to implement a decisive shift in policy, moving from appeasement to assertive action. The recommendations included:
• Designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization,
• Shutting down Iranian embassies which are implicated in orchestrating terrorism,
• Triggering the snapback mechanism to intensify sanctions against the regime over its nuclear weapons program.
The upcoming Geneva meeting was identified as a pivotal moment for the EU to communicate unequivocally to the Iranian regime and the international community that continued human rights abuses and strategic manipulations will not be tolerated.
The ISJ encouraged EU officials to reflect deeply on these issues and adopt a stance that prioritizes human dignity and global security. The actions taken at this critical juncture could significantly influence Iran’s domestic and international trajectory in the forthcoming years.