Shereen Abady the human rights activist, who received a Nobel Peace Prize, does not advise enforcing economic sanctions on Iran. Abady who is visiting Norway currently, expressed her severe disapproval of enforcing economic sanctions on Iran, and she told the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store that economic sanctions only harm the Iranian people, which is why she is more in favor of political boycotting. She went on further to explain that she was not suggesting that Western countries sever ties completely with Iran but rather that if the Iranian government continues to abuse the Iranian people, the international community should take steps such as decreasing diplomatic representation and instead of having embassies in Iran have only consulates. She added that this approach has worked before, when all countries of the European Union called back their ambassadors from Iran, when Iranian authorities were assassinating their opposition abroad. Abady said that it was necessary to go through this experience once more in the event that negotiations with Iran fail.

In the same context the Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store said that Norway had no plans currently to recall its ambassador from Iran, saying that Norway was focusing on keeping pace with the developments with allies from Europe and the Security Council. At the same time he believed it was important to always find appropriate means to achieve their aims.

Abady also criticized Siemens for providing the Iranian intelligence authorities with the technology used in the surveillance of the emails of Iranian citizens.

NTB