Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Howell of Guildford (Conservative). It was answered on Tuesday, 16 January 2007.

Iraq: Policy Co-ordination

Question: My Lords, could we clarify one very important issue of British policy? Has the Minister noted that Secretary Rice and, indeed, the president, have announced a new approach, attitude and policy towards Iran in that they will chase up militarily much more vigorously the various Iranian-controlled networks in Iraq generally, increase financial sanctions against Iran and, indeed, blockade Iranian ports? That is the new American policy. Is it our policy as well in Basra and wherever we are in Iraq, or is it not? Could we be clear about that?

Answer: My Lords, in the areas for which we are responsible we have made it clear that we will do absolutely everything necessary to deal with the terrorism and the attacks that take place. If those attacks come from Iranian sources, we will dealwith them. The nature of the weapons and their targeting indicate that there have been interventions of that kind, but whatever the sources of the attacks, whether they are Iranian, Shia or, further north,from Sunni insurgents, they will be dealt with as insurgents.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 688 c572
Session: 2006-07
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Armed forces Deployment Iraq Foreign policy Peacekeeping operations USA
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk