Written question asked by Robert Halfon (Conservative) on Monday, 13 December 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 December 2021. It was answered by James Heappey (Conservative) on Thursday, 16 December 2021 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Iran: Counter-terrorism

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to (a) counter the threat posed to UK national security by proxy terror groups funded by Iran and (b) prepare for the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran.

Answer: The Government has long held concerns over both Iran's destabilising activity and its continued and systematic non-compliance with its nuclear commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action(JCPOA). We regularly discuss how best to address Iranian destabilising activities across government, as well as with our partners in the Gulf, Europe, and the United States (US). Our top priority remains to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability; the Government remains firmly committed to the JCPOA and continues to support negotiations with all parties and the new US administration. We have made clear that we favour a diplomatic solution where the door is kept open for renewed talks between Iran, the US and regional partners. A sustainable solution should not only address Iran's nuclear non-compliance but also its ballistic missile program and its destabilising activity across the region.

Secondary information