Miliband Faces Backlash Over Iran Handshake

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has faced criticism after he was photographed shaking hands with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

According to GB News on Friday, Miliband met Araghchi on Thursday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

The two officials discussed the conflict in the Middle East.

They also discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz and threats linked to Iran on British soil.

The meeting has drawn criticism from senior opposition figures in Britain.

Shadow Foreign Office Secretary Tom Tugendhat accused Miliband of “legitimising a regime that has often tried to harm our people.”

He said the Iranian government had not done enough to justify a meeting with a senior British minister.

“The Iranian regime has done nothing to justify any senior British minister meeting their envoys,” Tugendhat said.

He accused Iran of “murdering protesters, threatening our allies and arming terror groups, including the Houthis”.

Tugendhat also accused Tehran of threatening communities in Britain.

“Shaking hands gives them a credibility they have failed to achieve through violence,” he said.

He further criticised the British government’s approach to Iran.

“This is just grandstanding. Iran’s civilian government isn’t even in charge. Today, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is running the country,” Tugendhat said.

He added that British foreign policy should focus on protecting the country’s interests.

“Our foreign policy should be about protecting Britain’s interests, not legitimising a regime that has often tried to harm our people, fund terror groups, and destroy the freedoms that keep us safe,” he said.

Tugendhat also accused the government of using outdated methods to deal with emerging security threats.

“Our government fundamentally misunderstands the challenges we face, using old tactics to fight new threats.”

“Our enemies are organising, so we need to show strength and unity with our allies,” he said.

Shadow Foreign Office minister Alicia Kearns also criticised the meeting in a post on X.

“How dare Miliband shake Araghchi’s hand. He owes Parliament, British Jews, and the Foreman family an explanation and an apology,” she said.

Kearns described the meeting as “a propaganda win for Tehran”.

She added: “This is not an ally who’s misbehaving, so you make a stern face while shaking their hand.”

However, the UK Foreign Office defended the meeting.

It said Miliband used the talks to warn Araghchi that Britain would not tolerate intimidation, threats or hostile activity on British soil by groups linked to Iran.

The Foreign Office also confirmed that the officials discussed the war in the Middle East.

They also discussed the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The meeting came as world leaders and senior officials gathered in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly.