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Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad has restated the Government’s condemnation of Iran’s “destabilising activities” and for bringing “us close to a crisis point” due to its “escalation of its nuclear activities”, during a debate secured by CFI’s Honorary President Lord Polak CBE last week. Identifying Iran as posing a “direct threat to our interests and to the safety of our allies”, the Minister indicated that any possible return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was only a “stepping stone” in addressing Iran’s harmful activities in the Middle East.
Lord Polak opened the debate by referring to the West’s talks of sanction relief for Iran whilst applying unprecedented sanctions on Russia as a “shameful display of double standards”. He continued: “Iran is a regime which is responsible for war crimes. And the continued spread of terror and instability. I ask myself, why would Western states, which have taken severe measures against Russia, seriously contemplate lifting sanctions against the Iranian regime?” He added that the JCPOA was a “weak” and “one-dimensional response” to an Iranian regime which continues to support terrorism.
Lord Polak called upon the government to open a second negotiating track in Vienna, which would focus on the prohibition of the use or distribution of missiles by Iran. He argued, not including restrictions on Iran’s missile delivery systems in the original 2015 JCPOA deal was widely considered a mistake and that seven years later “those very same blind spots have reappeared”.
Responding to Lord Polak, Lord Ahmad said: “This deal is not perfect, but it is the best thing we have to ensure that Iran does not progress to developing nuclear weapons”. Lord Ahmed was open about the government’s belief that “Iran’s escalation of its nuclear activities over the past three years has threatened international peace and security, and brought us to a crisis point”. He reiterated: “The UK Government have repeatedly condemned Iran’s destabilising activity in the region, including its political, financial and military support for militant and proscribed groups”.
Lord Ahmad added: “While the UK Government support a return to the JCPOA and Iran’s nuclear programme being brought back under the scrutiny and control of the international community, we regard the JCPOA as the first step, a stepping stone towards addressing Iran’s broader destabilising actions, towards, we hope, working with regional partners for greater security across the Middle East”.
He further confirmed the UK’s commitment to the security of its partners in the region, stating: “Iran’s actions pose a direct threat to our interests and to the safety of our allies”. He also emphasised: “When I say our partners in the region, that includes, importantly, the State of Israel”.
The Minister finished by highlighting the governments’ hope for Iran to “become a positive and constructive force in the Middle East” and “we believe that constructive dialogue is the best route available to work through regional security issues”.
Lord Leigh also called on the UK to “press for a second negotiating track with Iran on regional issues”. He also pushed for the UK to finally proscribe the IRGC, arguing that it “meets all the criteria for proscription set out in the Terrorism Act 2000″, and stating that “now should be the time for the UK to undertake proscription of the IRGC and to urge the U.S. not to delist it”.
