Tehran: The speaker of Iran’s parliament, Ali Larijani, cancelled talks with German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Tuesday during his high-profile trip to Tehran, snubbing the German who had earlier stressed the need for reform in the Islamic Republic.
Larijani, seen as a moderate conservative in Iran, was the highest-ranking figure Gabriel was due to meet on his two-day visit aimed at boosting business ties. No reason was given for the cancellation, a spokeswoman for Gabriel said.
Gabriel had on Monday spoken out for the reforms pursued by President Hassan Rouhani. “The alternative to the current government is a return to the times of great confrontation,” Gabriel said.
He said Germany wanted to play a part in improving the economic situation for people Iran so that the government did not lose support.
Gabriel has also warned Tehran that to normalise relations, it must accept Israel’s right to exist and urged Iran to do what it could to push for a ceasefire in Syria.
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s forces, supported by Iranian-backed militia and Russian air power, have stepped up an offensive against rebel-held areas of Aleppo, Syria’s biggest city, bombing hospitals and damaging water supplies.
“We have of course asked the government to do everything it can to push for a ceasefire,” Gabriel told reporters on Monday.
He said he had made clear that no one in Germany could understand that hospitals were being bombed and civilians were suffering.
Everyone who supports the Syrian government “and that includes Iran” shares responsibility for ending the fighting, he said. “I think Iran knows its responsibility there,” he said.
The United States broke off talks with Russia on Monday on implementing a ceasefire agreement in Syria, suggesting there is little hope of a diplomatic resolution to the 5-1/2 year conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced 11 million.
“The ending of talks ultimately is a testament to our joint helplessness,” Gabriel said.
Although a moderate conservative, Larijani cooperated closely with the government of pragmatist Rouhani in approving Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers last year.
Gabriel is leading a delegation of business executives to Iran encourage business deals after a historic nuclear accord paved the way for ending sanctions that had been in place for years. On Monday, Siemens signed a contract to upgrade Iran’s rail network.
