Extract from pre-recess
debate (Commons)
(Harrow East) (Con):...On the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran
the position in Iran
remains at a critical stage. There has been progress from the
Government on tougher sanctions, but frankly it is not enough. We
must proscribe the IRGC in its entirety. It is a
terrorist organisation and should be highlighted as such. The
Jewish Chronicle has highlighted the fact that UK universities
have funded drone research, which was transferred to
Iranian universities and used directly to
produce drones. These were then transferred to the Russians to
combat the Ukrainians, whom we support, and we salute their brave
war against the illegal invasion by Russia...
(Rutland and Melton)
(Con)
Does my hon. Friend agree with me that academics need to
recognise that they do not live in a status free of geopolitics
and national security? We need to see prosecutions brought
against some of those academics because they broke sanctions
legislation, evaded sanctions and helped undermine sanctions. If
we see that, we may finally see academia recognise that it cannot
continue to partner with the Chinese Communist party’s military
organisations or Iranian military organisations. Academics must
recognise that, unfortunately, in some situations they are aiding
those who would undermine our national security.
I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention, and I agree
completely.
Extract from oral
answer (Lords) on Ukraine
(CB): My Lords, has
the noble Lord seen reports this week that children are also
being sent to Belarus? Will he ensure that the International
Criminal Court investigates that, along with the previous reports
of abductions to Russia? In answering the substantive Question
that was asked this afternoon, will he also refer to those
countries that have aided and abetted Putin, including China and
including Iran
which has provided weapons to the Russians?
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office () (Con): My Lords, I
assure the noble Lord that we are working with the International
Criminal Court on all elements. The taking of children from
Ukraine, be it to Russian territory or Belarus, is abhorrent, and
we are very focused on and seized of this. This is part of the
conversations we are having with the chief prosecutor at the ICC.
On the wider question of the malign influence of Iran
we are well-versed in that. It supplies drones. The issue of
China I have covered. We have seen China at least not block
action at the UN Security Council, and that action is welcome.
