Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Labour). It was answered on Monday, 5 March 2007.

Iran: UN Sanctions

Question: My Lords, may I ask my noble friend’s advice? I was at the Jeddah Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia last week when this question came up. How would he answer the accusation that we are engaging in double standards in doing everything that we can within the United Nations to stop Iran developing a nuclear capability while doing nothing about Israel's undoubted nuclear capability? Much as many people are against what is happening in Iran, the fact that so many in the region perceive a double standard undermines the position.

Answer: My Lords, my noble friend will be aware at first hand that there has been a good deal of discussion with the Government of Israel about the desirability of having a nuclear-free area throughout the Middle East. The existence of nuclear weapons in any part of the Middle East encourages others to consider following that option. But we have a straightforward priority: we do not want to see nuclear proliferation and least of all do we want to see it in regimes that may be undemocratic, unstable or liable to threaten or consider wiping out other nations in their region.

Secondary information