Iran-based forum cancelled as diplomats, journalists withdraw over reporter’s killing

An Iranian government-backed business forum that aimed to promote trade between Europe and the Islamic Republic was cancelled a day before it was set to start after journalists and diplomats were successfully pressured to withdraw over the execution of Iranian dissident journalist Ruhollah Zam.

“The organizing committee of the Europe-Iran Business Forum has decided to take the exceptional step of postponing the conference, which was slated to take place on December 14-16 as an online event,” the Europe-Iran Business Forum said in a statement.

The statement oddly did not say why the event has been postponed.

Meanwhile, the French Foreign Ministry tweeted that France, Germany, Austria and Italy have cancelled their ambassadors’ participation at the conference due to Iran’s “barbaric and unacceptable” execution of Zam.

Earlier today, Iran summoned the envoys of Germany and France after the two European countries condemned Zam’s execution.

In addition to European envoys to Iran, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell were also scheduled to speak at the event.

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Last Update: Sunday, 13 December 2020 KSA 21:58 – GMT 18:58