(Minister of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs): The UK is committed
to preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. We believe
the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) remains the best
way of achieving that goal. It is a critical agreement that makes
the world a safer place. The United Kingdom, and our European
partners, continue to work with the remaining parties to the deal
to maintain it. We expect Iran to meet its nuclear commitments as
set out in the agreement in full.
In May of this year, President Trump announced the withdrawal of
the United States of America from the JCPoA. In consequence,
today US sanctions on Iran will be re-imposed, including on
Iran’s oil and gas exporting capability. We have been clear with
the US administration about our determination to preserve the
JCPoA, and the fact that this is driven by our national security
interests.
As a party to the JCPoA, we remain committed to ensuring that
Iran receives the sanctions relief to which it is entitled. This
includes taking steps to enable firms wishing to engage in
legitimate trade with Iran to do so. We are working with our
partners France and Germany, fellow parties to the JCPoA, to
develop a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to enable continued
sanctions relief to reach Iran, and allow for European exporters
and importers to trade in compliance with EU and UN
sanctions.
In parallel to our work with partners to maintain the JCPoA, we
continue to take steps with our partners against the IRGC’s
destabilising behaviour across the region and to hold Iran to
account on human rights, including its treatment of
British-Iranians detained in Iran.
