Europe urged to raise plight of Iran’s political prisoners in any future talks

Human rights groups say the Iranian security establishment has used the delay in staging talks with the west to move against those the regime has long opposed. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Iranian human rights groups are urging MEPs and European governments to escalate the issue of Tehran’s mistreatment of political prisoners, arguing that the crackdown on internal dissent must be on the agenda in any talks about future relations between Europe and Iran.

The Iranian foreign ministry appears to be in no rush to stage further talks with the west without clear US assurances that it will not be attacked again.