Munich: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticized the Munich Security Conference, describing it as a 'Munich circus' against the backdrop of European Union policies toward Tehran.
According to Anadolu Agency, Araghchi expressed his discontent through the US social media platform X, stating, 'Sad to see the usually serious Munich Security Conference turned into the 'Munich Circus' when it comes to Iran.' He remarked on the perceived decline in the conference's seriousness, suggesting that performance has been prioritized over substance. Araghchi argued that the EU seems 'confused,' unable to grasp the internal dynamics within Iran.
Further elaborating, Araghchi claimed that the EU has become 'aimless' and has lost its geopolitical influence in the region. He specifically criticized Germany, accusing it of surrendering its regional policy to Israel. He painted a grim picture of Europe's overall approach, noting the 'paralysis and irrelevance of the EU/E3 (UK, France, and Germany)' in ongoing discussions about Iran's nuclear program.
Araghchi lamented that Europe, once a significant interlocutor, is now absent from the negotiating table. He pointed out that Iran's regional allies have proven to be 'far more effective and helpful than an empty-handed and peripheral E3.'
This year, Iran was not invited to the Munich Security Conference. Conference organizers justified this decision by citing the recent crackdown on anti-government protesters in Iran, deeming it not the right moment to engage with Tehran. Nonetheless, the conference provided a platform for Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's former Shah, to call for US and Israeli intervention against Iran.
The Munich Security Conference, held in the German city of Munich, is in its 62nd edition. It began on Friday and spans three days, organized under stringent security measures due to the sensitive international climate.
On September 29, the European Union reimposed nuclear-related sanctions on Iran through the 'snapback' mechanism tied to the 2015 nuclear deal. This reinstated various sanctions, including those on banking, energy, shipping, insurance, and trade in sensitive goods, which had previously been lifted or suspended under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Tehran rebuffed the legality of this action, asserting that entities that had withdrawn from or violated the nuclear deal had no standing to invoke the snapback mechanism and warned that the decision would further hinder diplomatic efforts.