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Proceeding contribution from Andrew Mackinlay (Labour) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 25 April 2007. It occurred during Adjournment debate on Iran (UK Policy).


Iran (UK Policy)

I wholeheartedly agree, and I am pleased that the hon. Gentleman has prompted me on that point. Those in the Iranian resistance in exile, with whom many Members in this Chamber meet and are pleased to be associated, emphasise as good, proud, patriotic Iranians that they do not want appeasement, but they certainly do not want their country to be invaded. They believe, as I do, that there is a third way, which is to send the right signals to the Iranian regime and to have robust engagement rather than appeasement. That is precisely what we have not been doing, for the reasons that I have tried to articulate this morning—the sending of mixed messages, the failure in respect of the inspections and boarding, and so on. No doubt the Minister will say that he does not have a lot of time, but there is one thing that he might tell us. We have been told in the past 24 hours that the Council of Ministers met yesterday and was going to increase the European sanctions against individuals, freeze additional assets and enforce a total ban on arms. Who are the additional people who will face travel bans? What additional assets will be frozen? Can we be sure that no armaments from the EU or British Government will go to Tehran, including chemicals such as zirconium silicate, which was diligently held up by Bulgaria on the borders? It had been exported from the United Kingdom some months ago, but was allowed to go through at the prompting of the UK. It seems to me, and I shall leave the Minister with this thought, that it would be stark, staring bonkers to have these new sanctions—as I say, I hope that he will tell us precisely what they are and how they will be enforced—and still to send parliamentary delegations to Iran. Presumably—I ask the question—that will stop.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
459 c300-1WH 
Session
2006-07
Chamber / Committee
Westminster Hall
Subjects
Human rights Iraq Foreign policy Foreign relations Nuclear weapons Nuclear power Terrorism Weapons Sanctions Iran
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk