Iran

Answer: The non-proliferation treaty is the most important element of international agreement that aims at what my hon. Friend outlines. It is worrying for the whole international community that Iran appears to have breached its safeguard obligations under the NPT for some time. I can do no better than quote Dr. el-Baradei, who made it clear in an interview with Newsweek as recently as 23 January that"““even after three years I am not yet in a position to make a judgement on the peaceful nature of the nuclear program””" in Iran. It must be recognised that neither the EU nor the international community as a whole is trying to deny Iran access to nuclear technology. Indeed, the European proposals of 5 August outlined our readiness to consider a number of significant elements in support of a civilian nuclear programme. However, the IAEA has made it clear to Iran that it lacks confidence in the peaceful aims of its nuclear programme; that is the essential element of the problem. We have therefore asked Iran to suspend all enrichment and reprocessing activity, as a confidence-building measure. I am afraid that its refusal to maintain that suspension only heightens the suspicions and concerns of the international community, and the sooner it gets back into dialogue to resolve this matter diplomatically, the better it will be for the whole world.

This is an answer to the Oral question asked on Monday, 27 February 2006 by Andrew Miller (Labour).

Question: My right hon. Friend knows that there are increasing obligations for technology transfer for peaceful purposes. What protections are in place for the development of wider, peaceful use of nuclear power and avoiding the transfer of some of that technology to countries such as Iran, as occurred under A. Q. Khan's regime?

Secondary information

Type: Oral answer to question
Reference: 443 c8-9
Session: 2005-06
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: International Atomic Energy Agency Nuclear weapons Nuclear power Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Iran
Link: View this Oral answer to question on www.publications.parliament.uk