The meeting organised by CASMII, the Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran, will be addressed by a number of parliamentarians and Middle East experts including Iranian academic Professor Abbas Edalat, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Paul Ingram (British American Security Information Council) and Alys Elica Zaerin (Action Iran). CASMII have also extended an invitation to Jack Straw whose opposition to military intervention was reportedly the cause of his demotion from his role as Foreign Secretary earlier this year.

Earlier in the day, a delegation will deliver a declaration to the Prime Minister containing the signatures of foreign ministers of 56 nations and stating that "the only way to resolve Iran's nuclear issue is to resume negotiations without any preconditions and to enhance cooperation with the involvement of all relevant parties".[1]

Professor Abbas Edalat said today;
“The G8 powers have painted a picture of an Iran defying the reasonable demands made by “the rest of the world”. In fact Iran is exercising its legal and inalienable right to pursue civilian nuclear technology. There is no evidence whatsoever that Iran has any nuclear weapons programme. What’s more, the demands of the leaders of the G8 nations represent neither the views of their populations nor the views of other world leaders. They certainly do not represent the 56 nations that signed the Baku Declaration which we presented to Tony Blair today.”

CASMII are concerned that by referring Iran to the Security Council, the stage is being set for imposition of sanctions which will only pave the way for military action against Iran.

Professor Edalat said:
“The Americans demanded that Iran concede the main point of the negotiations before they have even started. This was always going to be rejected by the Iranians and has provide a pretext for a referral to the Security Council which in turn could lead to miltiary action against Iran. The US government must reconsider its confrontational apporach and enter into direct negotiaiotns without any preconditions with Iran while recognising Iran's right for a civilian nuclear technology including uranium enrichment up to fuel grade as granted to Iran by the Non Proliferation Treaty. “


Event timetable:

5.30pm 17th July - Delegation to Downing Street
A high level delegation will deliver a statement signed by Foreign Ministers of 56 nations together with a petition calling on the Prime Minister to resume negotiations without any preconditions.

6.30pm 17th July – Meeting in the Commons
Committee Room 21a, Palace of Westminster, SW1. Meeting with Jeremy Corbyn MP, Professor Abbas Edalat, Paul Ingram and Alys Elica Zaerin. Jack Straw (to be confirmed).
Contact: CASMII Press Office on 07799650791or 0207 2292375 or 07999693893
Email:  stefan@campaigniran.org or  campaign@campaigniran.org
Visit: www.campaigniran.org

Notes:
[1] The Baku Declaration signed on 20th June 2006, by the Foreign Ministers of 56 Nations:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangledesh,,Benin, Brunei, Burkino Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrghyzistan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen

CASMII was started in the UK and US and now has a network of groups active across the world. It is an entirely independent campaigning organisation committed to opposing military attacks against Iran.

Action Iran is a British-based campaign.

BASIC is an independent research organization that analyzes government policies and promotes public awareness of defense, disarmament, military strategy and nuclear policies in order to foster informed debate.

Contacts:

Press Office - 07799 650791 or 07763 212650 or 07999693893 or 0207 2292375

Email -  stefan@campaigniran.org or  campaign@campaigniran.org

Visit - www.campaigniran.org