Westminster Diary

Stephen Gethins MP asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs “what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.”

Andrew Murrison, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, responded that “We are concerned by the risk of unintended escalation between the United States and Iran. We are also concerned by the potential of further tension as a result of the International Atomic Energy Agency”s confirmation on 1 July that Iran has broken the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) stockpile limit for Low Enriched Uranium. We are considering with our partners the options available to us under the terms of the JCPoA to keep the nuclear deal in place. We continue to call on the US to preserve the gains that the Iran nuclear deal has brought, avoiding actions that would prevent the remaining parties from meeting their commitments to uphold the deal. We believe maintaining the nuclear deal is in the best interests of Iran, the region and the UK.”

Angela Crawley, SNP MP, asked the Secretary of State for Defence “what recent assessment she has made of the security situation in Iran.”

Mark Lancaster, the Minister of State for the Ministry of Defence responded that “We are extremely concerned by Iran’s breach of the nuclear deal and we are working intensively to keep the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in place. We remain clear that the nuclear deal is still the best option in the interests of global security. It is critical that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons and this deal makes the world a safer place by taking the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran off the table. Iranian attacks on tankers in the Gulf and a US drone violate international norms and increase the risk of escalation by miscalculation. We are continuing to use all diplomatic channels to work with the international community to restore maritime security in the Gulf and de-escalate regional tensions.”

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson said:

Iran has broken the terms of the JCPoA, following its announcement that it will start uranium enrichment above the 3.67% limit agreed in the nuclear deal.

While the UK remains fully committed to the deal, Iran must immediately stop and reverse all activities inconsistent with its obligations.

We are coordinating with other JCPoA participants regarding the next steps under the terms of the deal, including a Joint Commission.

Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty’s Government, “what assessment they have made of the report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) SIPRI Yearbook 2019, Armaments, Disarmaments and International Security, published on 17 June, which claims that Israel has between 80 and 90 nuclear warheads.”

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon responded “Israel has not declared a nuclear weapons programme. The British Government has consistently called on Israel to join the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state and to upgrade its arrangement to a full scope Comprehensive Safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency.”

Alex Sobel asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs “what steps he is taking to support a diplomatic resolution to the stand-off between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Andrew Murrison, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office responded that “We are concerned by the risk of unintended escalation between the United States and Iran. We are also concerned by the potential of further tension as a result of the failure of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. We continue to call on the US to preserve the gains that the Iran nuclear deal has brought, avoiding actions that would prevent the remaining parties from meeting their commitments to uphold the deal. We remain in close co-ordination with international partners to find diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions, and specifically advising Iran – using our diplomatic relationship – that escalation is not in their interest,as I did during my Tehran visit in June.”