Written question asked by Lord Strathclyde (Conservative) on Monday, 2 February 2015, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 February 2015. It was answered by Baroness Verma (Conservative) on Wednesday, 11 February 2015 on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Natural Gas

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage close co-operation between Iran and Qatar over their combined interest in the exploitation of the South Pars/North Dome Gas field after the conclusion of the Vienna talks.

Answer: Trade with Iran is subject to certain restrictions derived from the sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the EU. The EU’s extensive sanctions regime against Iran include measures against the import of Iranian natural gas, as well as severe restrictions on the Iranian financial sector. Her Majesty’s Government will not promote trade or lift sanctions with Iran until a comprehensive nuclear agreement is in place which fully restores international confidence in the nature of Iran’s nuclear programme. HMG cannot make any advance comments on the conclusion of these negotiations in Geneva, or Qatar’s commercial interests in the exploitation of the North Dome Gas Field.

Secondary information