Written question asked by John Bercow (Conservative) on Friday, 2 May 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 7 May 2008. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Monday, 3 November 2008 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iran: Politics and Government

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by his Department to engage with the democratic opposition in Iran.

Answer: Encouraging respect for fundamental human rights and political freedoms remains a key element of our Iran policy. We do not get involved in Iran's internal political debates, as these are for Iranians themselves to resolve, but together with the EU we continue to promote the internationally recognised principles to which so many Iranians aspire including freedom of speech and transparent, genuinely democratic and accountable government. Our work to assist the development of civil society around the world will continue in support of this goal. We have concerns that Iran's electoral processes do not allow for truly competitive elections or democratic opposition, and have urged the Iranian Government to give their citizens a genuine democratic choice about their country's future, and the opportunity to choose from the full range of candidates.

Secondary information