Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Anderson of Swansea (Labour). It was answered on Monday, 26 February 2007.

Iran

Question: My Lords, it is clear that Iran is playing a negative role, not only in the area mentioned by the noble Lord, Lord Astor, but in other areas—such as encouraging Hezbollah and Hamas. Yet the old Soviet Union played such a negative role in the past, and in response we decided to contain and engage with all the instruments of soft power available to us. Are there not serious lessons to be learned now regarding Iran from that experience, and is it not quite wrong that the US—contrary to our interests and general western interests—refuses to parlay with Iran in areas of important interest worldwide?

Answer: My Lords, this Government have decided that they wish to keep channels of communication open and fruitful, and they are engaged with others, particularly on the Iranian nuclear portfolio. That has all been broadly helpful, and there is a good deal of co-operation among a number of nations, including the United States, around UN Security Council Resolution 1737. I take the view that diplomatic discussions and the attempts to persuade Iran to take a different route remain absolutely fundamental to our efforts. I comment only on our own efforts in that regard; they are the right way to go.

Secondary information