Written question asked by Lord Hague of Richmond (Conservative) on Friday, 20 October 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 24 October 2006. It was answered by Baroness Beckett (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 November 2006 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iran

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on investment by European energy companies in upstream oil and gas developments in Iran; and what the outcome was of these discussions.

Answer: I have not discussed such investments with my EU colleagues.On 6 June the EU High Representative, Javier Solana, presented proposals to Iran on behalf of the ‘E3+3’ (France, Germany, UK + China, Russia, US) as the basis for a possible long-term solution to the nuclear issue. These make clear that as part of a long-term agreement, we would support the establishment of a long-term energy partnership between Iran and the EU. Regrettably Iran has not taken the steps required by the International Atomic Energy Agency Board and the UN Security Council, which would enable negotiations to begin.

Secondary information