Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband faced criticism after meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last Thursday. The handshake between the two officials drew backlash from members of the UK Parliament, Jewish groups, and Iranian dissidents, who characterized the gesture as a diplomatic misstep that potentially served Iranian propaganda interests.

Critics pointed to Iran’s recent record, including allegations of a brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters, with reports suggesting that thousands were killed in 2025. Abbas Araghchi’s association with the Iranian regime and the country’s support for designated terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah further fueled the controversy. Alicia Kearns, the shadow foreign minister, condemned the meeting as an endorsement of a regime linked to attacks on Jewish communities in the UK, cyberattacks, and other hostile activities. She and others called on Mr. Miliband to apologize to Parliament, British Jews, and UK nationals detained in Iran, notably Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who have been held in Iran since January 2025 following their motorcycle trip through the country.

Vahid Beheshti, founder of the anti-regime group Iran Front, described the handshake as a "deeply shameful" act that conveyed the wrong message to the Iranian people. Similarly, Tom Tugendhat, the shadow foreign secretary, criticized the meeting as grandstanding and emphasized that it is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), not Iran’s civilian government, that effectively controls the country.

Supporters of the Foreign Secretary noted that Mr. Miliband used the meeting to address significant issues, including pressing for a resolution to the ongoing Middle East conflict. A Foreign Office spokesman stated that Mr. Miliband reiterated the UK’s determination to counter threats from Iranian-linked groups operating in Britain and affirmed that the UK would not tolerate intimidation or hostile actions on its soil. The meeting was part of a broader series of diplomatic engagements by Araghchi, whose talks with other Western diplomats were selectively highlighted by Iranian authorities.

The handshake occurred amid heightened tensions between the UK and Israel following the British government’s announcement of sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which Israel rejected as unfounded. Additionally, a recent spate of anti-Semitic attacks in the UK, some alleged to be linked to Iranian proxies, has intensified concerns over Tehran’s hostile activities abroad. Among these incidents was the firebombing of Jewish charitable ambulances in Golders Green, for which a group believed linked to Iran claimed responsibility, though investigations are ongoing.

While some European officials maintained a cautious distance from Araghchi during the summit, with photographs showing varying degrees of engagement, the UK government defended the interaction as part of broader diplomatic efforts. The Foreign Office declined further comment on the backlash but affirmed the UK’s position against Iran’s malign activities and its commitment to international diplomacy.