In the House of Lords this week CFI Honorary President Lord Polak CBE said the UK’s abstention on a US-led resolution at UN Security Council to extend UN arms embargo on Iran was an “error of judgement”.
Lord Polak said: “China and Russia were always going to veto, to support Iran. Those three countries are not known for honouring gentlemen’s agreements”.
He underlined: “We should have voted with the US, to make it clear that we oppose Iran accessing arms through the legitimacy of the UN but, sadly, we chose to leave the US exposed and lonely when, in truth, we agree with it”.
Emphasising that there “are 10 days before the expiry”, he asked the Minister: “Will my noble friend the Minister to take a lead and do what we know is right? If not, will he explain our policy going forward? How are we going to stop the spread of arms to the terror-supporting Iran?”
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Minister Lord Ahmad said in response: “I share with my noble friend the intent, which is to stop the destabilising influence of Iran””.
He added: “The United Kingdom abstained because the resolution could not attract the support of the council, and therefore did not represent a basis for achieving consensus”.
In response to a separate question, Lord Ahmad praised the UAE-Israel and Bahrain-Israel normalisation agreements as “important steps forwards” in a “troubled region”, adding “Israel is a reality, and part and parcel of the Middle East”.
