A UK lobby group has launched a petition urging Prince Charles not to visit Iran.

Grassroots group We Believe in Israel (WBII) started the online petition this week in response to an Sunday Times report which said that the Foreign Office and Clarence House were discussing the possibility of the future king touring the Islamic Republic this autumn.

The visit, which is expected to go through after international economic sanctions against Iran were lifted, will mark the first official royal trip to the country for more than 40 years.

But WBII Director Luke Akehurst said he was “disturbed” by the prospect of a royal visit.

“We do not consider it appropriate for a member of the Royal Family to visit Iran and give credibility to the Iranian regime,” he said, noting that the regime was marred by antisemitism, had funded terror groups and had leaders that denied the Holocaust and called for the destruction of Israel.

“We call on the Foreign Office and the Prince’s private office to reconsider his possible visit to Iran,” he continued.

“We find the proposed visit particularly strange as there has never been an official Royal visit to Israel, the only democracy in the region.”

According to the Sunday Times source: “The prince is very keen to visit Iran. He hopes he would be able to use his role as a diplomat to further encourage the relationship and dialogue between the two countries.”

The Prince of Wales made an unofficial visit Iran in October 2004. He visited the city of Bam in his capacity as president of the British Red Cross after an earthquake hit the region.