Foreign Secretary oral statement to Parliament on Iran - 13 January

The Foreign Secretary has provided an update to Parliament on the protests in Iran.

"With permission Madam Deputy Speaker, I want to update the House on unfolding developments in Iran.

Horrific reports suggest that potentially thousands of people have been killed, and many more arrested in the most brutal and bloody repression against public protest in Iran for at least thirteen years.

On 28 December protests began on the streets of Iran following a plunge in the value of Iran's currency.

Over the following week, the protests grew – in scale, intensity and geographic spread.

Crowds surged onto the streets, from major cities to rural towns.

Voices ranging from shopkeepers to university students – protesting for change.

Instead, they have been met with the most bloody repression.

A total internet shutdown instigated by the Iranian regime from the 8 January, together with restrictions on phone communications, means the full facts are not yet clear.

But I am fearful that the reports that we have seen may underestimate the full scale of the horror as further evidence and testimony reaches the outside world.

Videos are still emerging, including of what appear to be protestor corpses lined up in body bags outside a hospital on the outskirts of Tehran.

The Iranian regime has called for a three-day period of national mourning. But only for its own security forces.

No acknowledgement of dead protestors. Instead, the regime peddles its manufactured narrative of foreign manipulation and seeks to portray peaceful protestors as criminals and terrorists.

All the while pursuing a brutal and relentless crackdown on its own people.

It takes huge bravery to protest and to speak out in the face of this oppression – especially for women who continue to endure severe repression in their daily lives.

Madam Deputy Speaker, the United Kingdom condemns in the strongest of terms the horrendous and brutal killing of Iranian protestors and we demand that the Iranian authorities respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of their citizens.

On Friday, the Prime Minister joined with the German Chancellor and French President in condemnation of this violence and to call for an end to the violence.

It is a message I have also delivered this message directly to the Iranian Foreign Minister, Araghci yesterday. Setting out the UK's total abhorrence at the killings, the violence and the repression that we are seeing. Urging them urgently to change course.

And today as further reports come through, the Minister for the Middle East, at my instruction, has summoned the Iranian ambassador to underline the gravity of this moment and to call on Iran to answer for the horrific reports that we are hearing.

But this latest conduct by the Iranian regime is no aberration. It is no outlier. It is all too in keeping with the fundamental nature and track record of this regime.

Consistent with its previous conduct towards its own people – as we saw during the lethal repression of protestors led by Iranian women following the death in custody of Masa Amini at the hands of Iran's so-called Morality Police.

Consistent with its destabilising actions towards its neighbours in the region – as we have seen in its backing of terrorist and extremist proxies, of its backing of Hezbollah, Hamas the Houthis and militia groups in Iraq and Syria and from Iran's barrage of missile attacks on Israel.

Consistent with Iran's malign global impact – whether in terms of weapons support for Russia against Ukraine or its nuclear programme.   

And consistent too with Iran's state threat activities on UK soil – posing danger to dissidents, journalists and the Jewish community here in the UK.

With more than twenty potentially lethal Iran-backed plots over last year alone, as tracked through the vital work of the UK's security agencies.

So let me set out the action that the Government is taking in coordination with allies in response to the consistent threat that the Iranian regime poses to stability, security, freedom and the UK national interest.

First on domestic security threats:

We will not tolerate any Iran-backed threats on UK soil. In May, three Iranian nationals were charged with offences linked to the Iranian regime under the National Security Act 2023.

And I want to thank the police, security and intelligence services for their tireless work to keep us safe.

Last year we placed Iran on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) to detect, deter and disrupt malign and undeclared efforts to undermine our democracy. 

We sanctioned the criminal Foxtrot network for the violent threats it posed against Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe on behalf of the Iranian regime.

And we have geared up the UK security infrastructure to better tackle hybrid threats.

As Home Secretary, I commissioned the review by the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC into what more needed to be done so that we could apply counter terrorism style powers – including on proscription – to state backed threats as well.

We announced last year that the Government will take forward the recommendations so we can deal with all the UK based threats that we face.

Second support for British citizens:

Madam Deputy Speaker, the first duty of government is the safety and security of our citizens. My Department is working tirelessly to ensure the safety of British nationals in Iran.   

I spoke yesterday with the UK's Ambassador in Tehran about the vital work he and the team are doing on the ground.

The FCDO is in contact with the relevant Iranian authorities regarding detained British nationals. Their welfare in Iran remains a priority. 

We are of course deeply concerned that Craig and Lindsay Foreman have been charged with espionage in Iran.

Just yesterday Minister Falconer met with members of the Foreman family. We continue to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities.

Third, the co-ordinated economic and diplomatic pressure on this regime:

This Government and our predecessors have continually raised human rights violations in Iran through the UN and international forums.

Including most recently this Autumn resolutions calling for an end to the regime's reprisals against women, against journalists and against human rights campaigners.

Then in October, alongside our E3 partners France and Germany, the UK triggered the snapback process which saw the reinstatement of six previously terminated UN sanctions resolutions on Iran.

We did so because of the repeated failure by the Iranian regime to comply with its nuclear commitments.

On 1 October, we updated domestic legislation to reapply extensive sanctions measures contained in these Resolutions.

Also going further by designating 71 individuals and entities in sectors which have links to Iran's nuclear programme.

Overall, this Government has imposed over 220 Iran sanctions designations since coming into Office.

And we are backing strong sanctions enforcement. Just last week, the UK provided support to the US's seizure of Bella 1, accused of shadow fleet activities and Iran sanctions breaches.

At the time when the sanctions were reinstated in October, I urged the Iranian regime even then to change their approach, to work with the international community and to comply with their obligations.

I told them then that it would take time to fully implement the UK sanctions and during that window they should start compliance and engagement with the international community, and end the deception and obfuscation

They have not done so. Weapons inspectors still have not been given access.

And far from changing their approach, we have seen instead a reversion to the most brutal forms of repression on their own streets.

As a result I can confirm, the UK will bring forward legislation to implement full and further sanctions and sectoral measures.

The UK has already designated key players in Iran's oil, energy, nuclear and financial systems.  

Further measures will target finance, energy, transport, software, and other significant industries which are advancing Iranian nuclear escalation. 

And we will work further with the EU and other partners to explore what additional measures might now be needed in response to developments.

I also send a message to other countries who have sought to avoid implementing UN sanctions or to undermine the legitimacy of the UN sanctions reinstated following the Snapback process.

No one should be supporting the kind of approach the Iranian regime is currently taking. All member states should be fulfilling their UN obligations on such a grave and serious issue.

Madam Deputy Speaker, let me say something else about the events in recent days.

Just as they did in 2022, it is absolutely clear that the Iranian regime are trying to paint these protests as the result of foreign influence and instigation.

They are using that accusation to try and whip up opposition to the protests amongst anti-Western Iranians, and to try and justify their vicious and sickening attacks on the ordinary civilians marching in the streets.

These are nothing but lies and propaganda being spread by a desperate regime.

They must not be allowed to undermine a genuine, grassroots movement, drawing together people from all parts of Iranian society, and spreading across multiple cities and regions.

That is why we and other governments across the world are determined not to play into the hands of the regime, or to allow our words or actions to be twisted to support their lies and propaganda.

With a functioning embassy on the ground in Tehran and British nationals being held in Iranian jails, we recognise that responsibility, as previous Governments have always done.

In the last eighteen months, we have taken stronger action to tackle Iranian threats at home and abroad than any recent Government and we have done so with broad cross party support. That must continue.

The world is watching Iran. The UK will continue to confront the regime's lies; to call out its repression; and to take the steps necessary to protect the UK's interests.

I commend this Statement to the House."