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Proliferation in ParliamentBack to Proliferation in Parliament, December 2007 - February 2008 Westminster ParliamentKey to Column Numbering
UK Policy on Iran
Iran, Written Answers, 20 Feb 2008, Column 708WMr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his statement of 4 February 2008, Official Report, column 50WS, on GAERC, 28 January 2008, when the strengthening of the EU's measures in support of action by the UN Security Council on Iran will take place; and if he will make a statement. David Miliband: We are working closely with EU partners to ensure
that the EU is ready to adopt further measures as soon as possible after
the next UN Security Council Resolution is adopted. Foreign Ministers
of the E3+3 (UK, France, Germany, US, China and Russia) were unanimous
in their agreement on elements of a new resolution on 22 January and we
hope for an early vote in the UN Security Council. House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Inquiry on Global Security: IranThe House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee is currently conducting an inquiry on Global Security: Iran. The following documents relating to the Inquiry are available on the Foreign Affairs Committee website:
Iran: Nuclear Power, Written Answers, 16 Jan 2008, Column 1264WHarry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his US counterparts on 16 Jan 2008 : Column 1264W Iran’s nuclear programme and the use of (a) sanctions and (b) other policies; and whether the impact of those policies on UK troops was discussed. Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discusses
the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme regularly with the US Secretary
of State. The US is also part of the E3+3 group of countries that is leading
the international community in seeking a negotiated solution to this issue
and which therefore meets regularly to co-ordinate our approach. That
approach is based on a generous offer to Iran should they suspend their
proliferation sensitive activities and the threat of sanctions should
they continue to refuse to do so. Through the E3+3, the Government and
the US have played an important role in securing three United Nations
Security Council Resolutions on Iran, two of which have focused on sanctions.
The E3+3 are committed to a diplomatic solution to the concerns of the
international community about the Iranian nuclear programme. We have not
specifically discussed the impact of these policies on UK troops. Iran: Nuclear Power, Written Answers, 8 Jan 2008, Column 447WMr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department will produce an updated version of the January 2005 document, Iran's Nuclear Programme: A Collection of Documents, column 6443; and if he will make a statement. David Miliband: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be looking
to publish an updated version of the document in the first half of 2008. Iran, Written Answers, 8 Jan 2008, Column 439WMr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on relations with Iran; and if he will make a statement. Dr. Howells: Iran could be one of the world's great nations, but
it needs to make a choice between engagement and co-operation with the
international community, or continuing to refuse to abide by its international
obligations which will only lead to further isolation. We urge the Iranian
regime to make the right choice by suspending their uranium enrichment
programme and honouring all of its international commitments including
on human rights. Iran: Nuclear Weapons, Written Answers, 13 Dec 2007, Column 829WMr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decisions were taken at the meeting of E3+3 Political Directors in Paris on 1 December about the next stage in discussions with Iran over its nuclear programme; and when the next meeting between Javier Solana and Saeed Jalili is expected. David Miliband: E3+3 Political Directors agreed in Paris on 1 December that neither the report of Mohammed El Baradei nor that of Javier Solana could be described as a 'positive outcome', the test set in the statement issued by E3+3 Foreign Ministers on 28 September in New York. Accordingly, they agreed that we should seek a new UN Security Council sanctions resolution. Dr. Solana made clear to Sa'id Jalili that they should remain in touch as necessary, but there is no date fixed for a further meeting at present. Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether Iran is meeting its commitments under the IAEA-Iran work plan of August 2007; and if he will make a statement. David Miliband: Dr. Mohammed El Baradei, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reported on 15 November the level of co-operation Iran was giving the agency following the agreement of the IAEA-Iran work plan. In his report, he stated that Iran had provided 'sufficient access' to individuals and had responded in a 'timely manner' to the IAEA's questions. However, he also noted that co-operation had been 'reactive rather than proactive' and that active co-operation and full transparency were 13 Dec 2007 : Column 830W 'indispensable for full and prompt implementation of the work plan'. Even more concerning, he noted that the IAEA's knowledge about Iran's current nuclear programme is diminishing. We share Dr. El Baradei's concerns. After many years of concealing its nuclear programme, Iran has still not disclosed in full its past nuclear activities, and the IAEA is still unable to state its confidence in the answers Iran has given. To do this, the IAEA has made clear that Iran needs to give proactive co-operation and implement the Additional Protocol. Unless Iran does this, the IAEA has said it is unable to provide assurances about the exclusively peaceful nature of the programme. If Iran is serious about building international trust, it should implement the Additional Protocol and suspend all enrichment-related activities without delay. Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the most recent United States intelligence agencies' National Intelligence Estimate Report, Iran: Nuclear Intentions and Capabilities. [173081] Dr. Howells: It is not the practice of this or previous Governments
to comment on intelligence matters. However, nothing in the National Intelligence
Estimate changes the fundamental problem that we face which is Iran's
pursuit of a uranium enrichment programme that has, as far as we can see,
no civilian application. This is despite the unanimous demand from the
UN Security Council and from the International Atomic Energy Agency that
it stops doing so. Accordingly, we will continue to act in the UN, the
EU and bilaterally to persuade Iran to change its approach and comply
with its international responsibilities. Iran: Nuclear Power, Written Answers, 12 Dec 2007, Column 568WMr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on whether the Government shares the assessment of the November 2007 National Intelligence Estimate by the US National Intelligence Council that Iran maintained a covert programme of nuclear weapon design, weaponisation work and covert uranium conversion-related and uranium enrichment-related work prior to 2003; and if he will make a statement. David Miliband: It is not the practice of this or previous Governments
to comment on intelligence matters. However, it is important to note that
nothing in the National Intelligence Estimate changes the fundamental
problem that we face which is Iran's pursuit of a uranium enrichment programme
that has, as far as we can see, no civilian application. This is despite
the unanimous demand from the UN Security Council and from the International
Atomic Energy Agency that it stop doing so. Accordingly, we will continue
to act in the UN, the EU and bilaterally to persuade Iran to change its
approach and comply with its international responsibilities. Iran: Negotiations, Written Answers, 6 Dec 2007, Column 1431WMr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and EU High Representative Javier Solana have agreed to a fresh round of talks in December; and if he will make a statement. David Miliband: No meeting has been agreed for December. Javier
Solana met Saeed Jalili on 30 November in London. He described the meeting
as "disappointing". Accordingly, on the basis of the agreement I reached
with my E3+3 colleagues in New York on 28 September, our Political Directors
met in Paris on 1 December and agreed to prepare a new sanctions resolution
to submit to the UN Security Council. Iran: Nuclear Power, Written Answers, 6 Dec 2007, Column 1431WMr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the talks between EU high representative Javier Solana and the Iranian nuclear negotiator towards meeting the mandatory UN requirement that Iran suspends the proliferation-sensitive aspects of its nuclear programme; and if he will make a statement. David Miliband: Javier Solana met Iran's nuclear negotiator Saeed
Jalili on 30 November. Dr. Solana's staff reported to E3+3 Political Directors
on 1 December that the meeting was 'disappointing'. Accordingly, in line
with the agreement I reached with my E3+3 colleagues in New York on 28
September, Political Directors agreed to prepare a new sanctions resolution
to submit to the UN Security Council. Iran: UN Resolutions, Written Answers, 6 Dec 2007, Column 1431WMr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Permanent Five Security Council members and Germany to agree a new Security Council Resolution on Iran is expected to take place; and if he will make a statement. David Miliband: E3+3 Political Directors and Foreign Ministers
are in regular touch. I agreed with my E3+3 colleagues in New York on
28 September that we would seek a vote on a new UN Security Council sanctions
resolution against Iran unless both Mohammed El Baradei and Javier Solana
reported a positive outcome from their dealings with the Iranians. Dr.
El Baradei reported on 15 November. His report was mixed, but made clear
that the International Atomic Energy Agency's visibility of Iran's nuclear
programme was "diminishing". Dr. Solana's staff reported to Political
Directors on 1 December and said that Solana had found his 30 November
meeting with Saeed Jalili "disappointing". Accordingly, Political Directors
met in Paris on 1 December and agreed to prepare a new sanctions resolution.
I will continue to stay in touch with my E3+3 colleagues on the subject. Iran: Sanctions, Written Answers, 4 Dec 2007, Column 1134WMr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stroud of 14 November 2007, Official Report, column 318W, on Iran: sanctions, which EU working groups will be considering further sanctions measures against Iran before the December General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting; and if he will make a statement. David Miliband: Discussions on further EU measures against Iran
would be carried out in the Political and Security Committee and the working
group covering the Middle East, the Committee on the Middle East and Gulf
(COMEM) reinforced by non-proliferation experts from the Committee on
Non-Proliferation (CONOP). Back to Proliferation in Parliament, December 2007 - February 2008 © 2008 The Acronym Institute. |