E3+3 negotiations with Iran on a comprehensive solution to the nuclear issue have not been affected by either Iraq or Ukraine. These negotiations focus purely on the nuclear issue: regional and other issues are not discussed. The E3+3 remain united in their objectives and approach to the negotiations. All of the E3+3 agreed on 19 July to extend the Joint Plan of Action until 24 November. We will continue to work constructively with our E3+3 partners to reach our goal by 24 November.

We do not keep records of visits by external agencies to Camp Liberty, though the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq continues to monitor

conditions at Camp Liberty regularly. They report that the provision of life support systems such as water, electricity and food continue to meet basic humanitarian standards. The Government of Iraq is responsible for security at Camp Liberty, and we do not make assessments of the safety of the camp’s residents.

The Friends of Syria are committed to supporting the moderate Syrian opposition who are fighting extremists, and who are in favour of a pluralist and democratic future for Syria. Iran’s substantial military and financial support for Assad and his regime

runs counter to this objective. The only sustainable solution to the crisis in Syria is to reach a negotiated political transition by mutual consent - this is the core principle contained in the Geneva Communiqué. We believe that Iran can and must play a constructive role in Syria by committing its support for negotiations between the Assad regime and the opposition on a transitional authority for Syria by mutual consent. Iran could also play a constructive role in ensuring humanitarian aid is delivered without hindrance across Syria, as required by UN Security Council resolution 2139. The Friends of Syria are committed to these goals.

A significant set of EU, UN and US sanctions have been imposed on Iran because of its nuclear programme. UK exports to Iran fell to £79 million in 2013, down from £100 million in 2012, and £180 million in 2011. EU exports to Iran have also fallen, totalling €5.4 billion in 2013. This is down from €7.4 billion in 2012, and €10.5 billion in 2011.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), announced on 17 June his decision to reopen the British Embassy in Tehran with a small initial presence, as soon as the practical arrangements can be made.

Iran is an important country in a volatile region, and maintaining embassies around the world, even under difficult circumstances, is a central pillar of the UK's global diplomatic approach. We have no illusions that returning to Iran will be easy - there will continue to be many areas where we strongly disagree. Ultimately, having an Embassy in Tehran will enable us to better understand and respond to those challenges.

The Government was disturbed by reports of physical violence against political prisoners in Evin prison on 17 April 2014. We have been concerned about prison conditions in Iran for some time and set out our views formally in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s 2014 Human Rights report. The UK has been a strong supporter of the UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Iran, Dr Shaheed, and successfully lobbied for the extension of his mandate in 2014.

In March, Dr Shaheed reported that conditions for prison inmates range from poor to inhumane, access to medical services is often limited, and hygiene and nutrition are poor. The UK works closely with international human rights bodies and partners to encourage Iran to engage seriously on human rights issues. The UK’s non-resident Charge d’Affaires also raised human rights with a range of Iranian government officials during his visit to Iran in March.

The Government was disturbed by reports of physical violence against political prisoners in Evin prison on 17 April 2014. We have been concerned about prison conditions in Iran for some time and set out our views formally in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s 2014 Human Rights report. The UK has been a strong supporter of the UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Iran, Dr Shaheed, and successfully lobbied for the extension of his mandate in 2014.

In March, Dr Shaheed reported that conditions for prison inmates range from poor to inhumane, access to medical services is often limited, and hygiene and nutrition are poor. The UK works closely with international human rights bodies and partners to encourage Iran to engage seriously on human rights issues. The UK’s non-resident Charge d’Affaires also raised human rights with a range of Iranian government officials during his visit to Iran in March.

The UK was disturbed at reports of attacks on political prisoners in Evin prison on 17 April 2014. As we detailed in the Foreign

and Commonwealth Office Annual Human Rights report, released in April 2014, prison conditions in Iran remain a serious concern. The UK’s non-resident Charge d’Affaires raised human rights with a range of Iranian government officials during his visit to Iran in March. The UK works closely with international human rights bodies and partners to encourage Iran to engage seriously on human rights issues.

The UK was disturbed at reports of attacks on political prisoners in Evin prison on 17 April. We remain concerned by ongoing reports of poor prison conditions in Iran and by the Iranian government’s refusal to accede to requests for internal or international investigations into potential breaches of prisoners’ rights. In March 2014 the UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Iran said that conditions for inmates are reported to range from poor to inhumane. Access to medical services is often limited, and hygiene and nutrition are poor. The International Committee of the Red Cross already has a presence in Iran, and should they request access to Evin Prison, we would encourage the Iranian authorities to allow this.

Human rights were not amongst the issues discussed by Sir Simon Gass on his visit to Iran in April: his interlocutors did not have responsibilities in this area. However, the UK's non-resident Chargé d’Affaires discussed human rights with a range of Iranian government officials during his visit to Iran on 12 March 2014. He raised the use of the death penalty, freedom of religion and the workings of the criminal justice system. Prior to that, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised Iran’s human rights records with Iranian foreign minister Zarif at the UN General Assembly on 23 September 2013.

There have now been two rounds of negotiations with Iran on a comprehensive agreement, which would address our concerns about Iran's ability to develop a nuclear weapons capability. These discussions have been positive and useful; and a framework for the negotiations has been agreed. But achieving a comprehensive agreement will not be easy.

Under the November Geneva interim deal, Iran has halted the most concerning aspects of its nuclear programme and in some cases is rolling it back: e.g. it has stopped enriching uranium beyond 5%; it is getting rid of its stockpile of 20% enriched uranium; and is not installing any additional centrifuges. All of these actions take Iran further away from developing a nuclear weapons capability. We are using the time and space created by the Geneva deal to negotiate a comprehensive agreement to address all our proliferation concerns and therefore take Iran further away from developing a nuclear weapons capability.

We would welcome a more constructive approach from Iran in Syria, and have urged them repeatedly both to endorse the Geneva communiqué, and to use their influence with the Assad regime to secure unhindered access for humanitarian assistance for the Syrian people. However, as things stand, Iran continues to support the Syrian regime and affiliated militias, in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1747. Such actions prolong the conflict. We will continue to press Iran, including through our expanded bilateral engagement, to support a peaceful political resolution to the Syria crisis.

The Government is aware of these claims reported in the media. I would like to refer the noble Lord to the Crown Office statement of 11 March in response to these claims:

“There is nothing new in these claims and some of the accounts of the evidence reported in the Daily Telegraph are inaccurate. Mesbahi's claim that Iran was responsible was first reported in the media in the late 1990s and was available to the defence before the trial but they did not call him as a witness. The wider alleged involvement of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine–General Command (PFLP-GC) has been repeatedly reported over many years but was addressed in full and rejected at the original trial”.

“The only appropriate forum for the determination of guilt or innocence is the criminal court, and Mr Megrahi was convicted unanimously by three senior judges. His conviction was upheld unanimously by five judges, in an Appeal Court presided over by the Lord Justice General, Scotland’s most senior judge. As the investigation remains live, it would not be appropriate to offer further comment.”

The Police Scotland investigation into the involvement of others who may have acted with Abdelbaset al-Megrahi in planning and carrying out the Lockerbie bombing remains open.

As the investigation remains live, it would not be appropriate for the Government to comment further on these claims.

The UK’s non-resident Chargé d’Affaires discussed human rights with a range of Iranian government officials during his most recent visit to Iran on 12 March 2014. He raised the use of the death penalty, freedom of religion and the workings of the criminal justice system. Prior to that, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised Iran’s human rights records with Iranian foreign minister Zarif at the UN General Assembly on 23 September 2013.

The human rights situation in Iran remains dire. We are particularly concerned by reports that the rate of executions has increased in 2014. We urge Iran to take concrete action to improve its human rights record. However, President Rouhani’s government has taken some positive steps on human rights, including the release of a number of political prisoners in September 2013.

We are concerned by reports of a possible $195 million purchase of arms by Iraq from Iran, and have raised the issue with the Government of Iraq. Importing arms from Iran would be in direct breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1747.

President Rouhani has said that he wants to find a peaceful end to the conflict in Syria. However, as things stand, Iran continues to support the Syrian regime and affiliated militias through weapons supplies, equipment, financial assistance, and personnel provided by its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This is in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1747, and is prolonging the conflict. Iran can and must play a constructive role in Syria. This includes publicly endorsing the Geneva communiqué, and using their influence with the Assad regime to secure unhindered access for humanitarian assistance, and the end of indiscriminate air attacks on civilian areas. We will continue to raise our concerns with Iran, including through our emerging bilateral engagement.

We welcome the initial positive steps taken by President Rouhani on human rights, such as the release of a number of political prisoners in September 2013. However, the human rights situation in Iran remains dire and we are particularly concerned by reports that the rate of executions has increased in 2014. We hope that President Rouhani will act on the pledges he has made, implement social reforms and improve the rights of all citizens in Iran. In the meantime, we will continue to press Iran to improve its terrible human rights record.

We remain deeply concerned at Iran’s material support for groups such as the military wings of Hamas and Hizballah, as well as its support for the Assad regime, armed groups in Iraq, and across the broader Middle East. There is a significant body of international sanctions which target such activity. This includes UN prohibitions on the export of weapons by Iran, and EU and UN travel bans and asset freezes on leading members of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.