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Munich Security Conference disinvites Iranian officials

AFP
AFP - news@thelocal.de
Munich Security Conference disinvites Iranian officials
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas speaks on stage during the 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, southern Germany on February 14, 2025. Photo by Michaela STACHE / AFP

The organisers of the Munich Security Conference said Friday they had rescinded invitations to the Iranian government for this year's event following a violent crackdown against a wave of protests.

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"Several weeks ago an invitation was extended to several representatives of the Iranian government," a spokesman for the event told AFP in a statement.

"In light of current events the Munich Security Conference will not honour these invitations," he said.

Protests linked to the cost of living broke out in Iran on December 28, spiralling into one of the largest protest movements against the clerical leadership since the Islamic republic was founded in 1979.

In recent days, accounts have poured in of the violence suffered by protesters at the hands of security forces.

Earlier on Friday, a German foreign ministry spokesman was asked about reports that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had been invited to the Munich event.

"Given the bloody repression of the protests we don't think his participation would be appropriate," the spokesman said.

"We have advised against this invitation and have underlined this," he added.

The Munich Security Conference is an annual fixture in the diplomatic calendar, regularly attracting senior figures from across politics and industry.

In 2025, US Vice President JD Vance used a blistering speech at the conference to attack Germany's centrist political parties for refusing to work with the far-right AfD.

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