Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps
(Harrow East) (Con)
3. What recent assessment he has made of the implications for his
policies of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ activities in
(a) the middle east and (b) globally.(905338)
The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Affairs ()
The Government regularly assess the impact of the IRGC’s
destabilising activities on the UK’s interests and on British
nationals. We work closely with our partners to deter those
destabilising activities, including on the interdiction of
Iranian weapons in the Gulf and of weapons proliferation in
Russia. The UK sanctions the IRGC in its entirety.
My right hon. Friend will be aware that the regime is boasting
that its hypersonic missiles can hit Tel Aviv in 400 seconds,
that the joint comprehensive plan of action restrictions end in
October and that there are suggestions that British universities
have been involved in research that has led to drones that are
attacking Ukrainian positions from Russia. Will he therefore
commit to ensuring that there is no delisting of any
organisations involved in any of those activities, undertake to
research the position with UK universities and proscribe the IRGC
in its entirety?
I am aware of the reports about research that my hon. Friend
mentions and we are, of course, looking into that. We continue to
stand firm on our commitment that Iran cannot become a nuclear
weapons state, and we will ensure that, as the sunset clauses in
the JCPOA arrive, we take evolved measures to ensure that that is
the case. He will know that we keep designations consistently
under review.
(Denton and Reddish)
(Lab)
The Foreign Secretary knows that there are concerns across the
House of Commons about the involvement of Iranian state-based
actors here in the United Kingdom and their threats towards
Iranian activists here who have fled persecution in their
homeland. He knows the strength of feeling about proscription as
well. What assessment has the Department made of the
rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and the Iranian regime, and
has he spoken to anybody in Saudi Arabia about that?
I have had conversations with both the Saudi ambassador to the
Court of St James and the Saudi Foreign Minister on that issue.
They are making attempts to permanently bring ceasefires in Yemen
to a full peace settlement. If that is the case, we are very
happy to support that action. We remain deeply engaged with
regard to Iran’s regional behaviour. On the threats to British
nationals and people based here in the UK, the Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Office maintains a very close and
ongoing working relationship with the Home Office, as the hon.
Gentleman would expect, so that we can co-ordinate both our
defence and our international actions on that issue.
(Glasgow South)
(SNP)
The Secretary of State will know from his many visits and
discussions that Iranian drones continue to terrorise the
Ukrainian people, not least in the capital city of Kyiv, so it
was worrying last week to learn from the US National Security
Council that Iran is helping Russia build a drone facility just
outside Moscow that could be operational as early as next year.
How is the Secretary of State working here in London but also
with partners to suffocate that capability as quickly as
possible?
The hon. Gentleman makes a very important point. When we first
received credible reports of Iranian support to Russia in its
drone attacks on Ukraine we investigated them and subsequently
sanctioned entities and individuals involved in that. We are
aware of the report he mentioned, and that will of course form
part of our thinking on what other action we should take. It is
important to remember that the action we have taken thus far is
not the limit of our work, and we will continue to choke off the
financial supply both to Russia itself and those seeking to arm
it in that brutal war against the Ukrainian people.
(Buckingham) (Con)
In early June, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps unveiled
Iran’s first hypersonic Mach-15 missile, which was widely
celebrated in Tehran. What has my right hon. Friend done to
challenge the dangerous and continued militarisation in Iran?
We continue to work closely with our international colleagues,
particularly the members of the E3, the United States of America
and our partners in the region, to dissuade Iran from its
increasingly militaristic presence. We continue to maintain our
policy that it should never be a nuclear-weapons state, and we
also keep a close eye on other weapons technology development.
(West
Dunbartonshire) (SNP)
Last week’s revelation from Canada’s national security adviser
that the republic of India was among the most active sources of
foreign interference in that country—along with China, Russia and
Iran—is deeply concerning. Does the Minister know whether the
Department has taken soundings from our treaty ally and fellow
Five Eyes member regarding India’s activities abroad,
particularly its surveillance of not only Sikh activists but
Members of this House in relation to the ongoing detention of my
constituent Jagtar Singh Johal?
As the hon. Gentleman knows, I have met his constituent’s family,
and we continue to raise this case with the Indian authorities. I
regularly meet my Canadian counterpart, who has not raised
directly with me the specific concerns raised by the hon.
Gentleman.
