Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Michael Clapham (Labour). It was answered on Tuesday, 19 January 2010 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

UK and Iran

Question: Will my right hon. Friend say whether the E3 plus 3 group has discussed the Russian proposal to enrich uranium? Does he think that there is any mileage in it, and is it something that the Iranians may well bend to as negotiations continue?

Answer: We certainly have. It is a very important proposal, which former director el-Baradei of the International Atomic Energy Agency tabled, but the Iranians have not given a positive response. Their reply, which is not in writing and, even at that, has not been formally tabled, does not accept the simple point that the IAEA-Russian proposal makes, which is, "The Iranians say that they have only civilian use for the low-enriched uranium; here is a way in which it can be enriched for medical purposes and returned to Iran for those purposes." Nothing would more clearly demonstrate to the wider world that Iran is serious, but it has not taken that opportunity.

Secondary information