Iran’s Regional
Activities: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
(Lichfield) (Con)
What recent assessment he has made of the role of the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran’s regional activities; and if
he will make a statement.
The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa ()
We have long condemned Iran’s regional destabilising activity,
including its political, financial and military support to
militant and proscribed groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon and
Syria, militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen. The Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps is, in its entirety, subject to the
UK’s autonomous sanctions. On 18 February, the Foreign Secretary,
alongside his E3 and US counterparts, committed in a statement to
working with regional parties to address their security concerns.
We continue to support the security of our partners working to
end the conflict in Yemen, and strengthen institutions in Iraq
and Lebanon.
[V]
As my hon. Friend the Minister will know, it is not just activity
in the middle east that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is
responsible for; it is not just with Hezbollah. There have been
incidents in France and other parts of Europe, and it has caused
the United States to ban the Revolutionary Guard and make it a
terror organisation. When will the United Kingdom do the same and
designate it as a terrorist organisation?
We keep the list of proscribed organisations under review. As my
hon. Friend knows, we do not routinely comment on whether
organisations or individuals are under consideration for
proscription. As I say, the IRGC is, in its entirety, subject to
our autonomous sanctions regime. The UK, along with our European
partners, wholeheartedly condemned the bomb plots in 2018 and
2019, including the one in Paris to which my hon. Friend
referred.
Topical
Questions
(Lewisham East) (Lab) [V]
Iranian officials have made it clear that the imprisonment of
British dual nationals is directly linked to the £400 million IMS
debt. The longer the Government deny that link, the longer
Anousheh, Nazanin and Aras will be kept away from their families.
Will the Foreign Secretary tell me what consideration has been
given to an urgent repayment of the debt through alternative
means, such as covid-19 supplies or other medical aid?
The hon. Lady takes a heartfelt interest in this matter. I have
recently spoken to the families of all three British-Iranian dual
nationals. Of course, we accept that there is a long-standing
dispute in relation to the IMS debt that needs to be resolved,
but that is separate from the arbitrary detention of British
nationals. Frankly, we should not be giving succour to the idea
that anything should happen other than their unconditional and
immediate release.
(Southport)
(Con) [V]
The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that Iran’s
uranium stockpile is now more than 14 times over the limit agreed
in the 2015 nuclear deal. Does my right hon. Friend believe that
the framework is working? What consequences will there be for
Iran’s continued non-compliance? [R]
My hon. Friend raises an important issue. Iran’s systemic
non-compliance with its obligations under the joint comprehensive
plan of action are rightly a concern of the whole international
community, particularly the state parties to the JCPOA. Frankly,
Iran has a clear choice: return to compliance or face increasing
economic and diplomatic isolation. On 18 February in Paris, I
joined my French and German counterparts and the new US Secretary
of State Tony Blinken to reinforce the transatlantic alliance and
concerted action to bring Iran back to full compliance, which is
our overriding focus.
