UK foreign secretary under fire over handshake with Iranian foreign minister

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has faced criticism after being photographed shaking hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting, which took place on Thursday, followed discussions on the Middle East conflict, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and threats posed by Iran to British interests.

Shadow Foreign Office Secretary Tom Tugendhat decried the encounter, claiming it legitimized a regime that has harmed British citizens by murdering protesters, threatening allies, and supporting terror groups. Tugendhat also dismissed the meeting as "grandstanding" and argued that Iran's current power structure should not be engaged in such a manner.

Alicia Kearns, another Shadow Foreign Office minister, echoed similar sentiments, stating that Miliband's handshake was a "propaganda win for Tehran." Despite the backlash, the UK Foreign Office defended Miliband's actions, stating that the meeting aimed to warn Iran that Britain would not tolerate intimidation or threats on British soil from groups affiliated with Iran. The meeting occurred as world leaders gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly.