Iran

Lord Purvis of Tweed Excerpts

Thursday 15th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

My Lords, the situation in Iran is very fast-moving, and there have been significant developments since the original Statement by the Government last Tuesday. Before moving on to the specific questions I would like to raise with the Minister, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the incredible bravery of the Iranian people who have taken to the streets day after day in protest against the cruel, barbaric and despotic regime that currently resides in Tehran. Too often, we in this country take our long-held freedoms for granted and forget that, across the world, there are fearless protesters literally risking their lives for nothing more than freedom and democracy. It is truly humbling. Those protesters face brutal treatment by their regime, and over 2,000 people have been killed, but, still, they are standing up bravely against that brutality and oppression.

Against the backdrop of the appalling actions of the Iranian regime, could the Minister please update the House on the actions that the Government are taking to hold Iran to account? What further steps are Ministers considering to ensure that the Iranian regime is subject to appropriate additional sanctions? We welcome the fact that the Iranian ambassador has now been summoned. Can the Minister please confirm whether the case of Erfan Soltani was raised with him?

Last night, it was reported that the British embassy in Tehran has been closed temporarily. Can the Minister update the House on the work that the embassy staff are currently undertaking to support British citizens currently still in Iran and how they will maintain that support as they move to operating remotely? How will embassy staff support Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who are currently being detained in Iran? Could we have an update on their case?

We have also seen reports that the Government are withdrawing some personnel from the Al Udeid airbase in Qatar. This is the first opportunity we have had to ask questions about these decisions. Could the Minister update the House on the reasons for that decision, and when the limited withdrawal of personnel will be completed?

On the actions of the US, we know that President Trump has been forthright in his public challenges to the Iranian regime. Could the Minister confirm what conversations have taken place between UK government officials and Ministers and their US counterparts? Will we work in lockstep with our American allies in giving robust response to these events in Iran? Has the Prime Minister spoken to President Trump directly to discuss our response?

Finally, I reiterate our support for the protesters in Iran who are so bravely standing up for freedom and democracy, at the risk of the ultimate personal sacrifice. The behaviour of the Iranian regime is truly horrific and we support the Government in their decision to summon the ambassador. Ministers must continue to work at pace to hold the regime in Tehran to account for its brutal oppression of those brave protesters fighting for liberty and democracy.

[Lord Purvis of Tweed (LD)]

My Lords, we must show solidarity and support the young Iranians seeking democratic rights, and we must protect those such as journalists and those in BBC World Service radio who are working to ensure that there is information, which can be life-saving in times of crisis. Can the Minister update the House on the status of the BBC Persian service? I think we all supported the emergency support for there being radio provision at a time of internet blackouts. Can the Minister update us on the availability of information for the Iranian civilian population?

We must also ensure at this time that British joint nationals are protected. Can the Minister update us on what consular support may continue to be available? I support the Government’s actions on making sure that our diplomats are protected, but what kind of consular support will be ongoing? In extreme circumstances, especially for victims who are young women, who are being particularly targeted, these Benches believe that there does need to be a safe and legal route for asylum, potentially, which we do not currently have.

Any Government who have religious morality police is one whom liberals are instinctively wary of, but a Government who use their organs of state to repress their people, imprison and torture peaceful protesters, target young women and murder those simply wanting a say on who governs them need to be condemned in the strongest terms.

The civilians in Iran are also having to grapple with unreliable and contradictory information from President Trump from the United States. As I mentioned, I support the UK’s precautionary actions on its diplomatic staff within Iran and, indeed, those within Qatar, but I have not heard so far advice for those within Baghdad and Basra in Iraq. Having frequently visited the border of Iran in that area, I know that any turmoil in Iran will have an impact in that area. If the Minister could update us on the advice for southern Iraq, that would be helpful.

As we saw just yesterday on Venezuela, President Trump is happy to work with autocrats, as long as they are his autocrats. It does not offer much faith to liberal governance and for those protesters. Can the Minister assure us that the British Government want to see open, fair, democratic governance within Iran, not simply a regime that will offer oil rights to one of our allies?

Finally, on sanctions, which we support, we will support the Government in enhancing the work even further, but we do not support the lack of proscription of the IRGC. In the previous October, when we discussed the Iran country regulations, I pointed out a loophole, and I will add one today, to which I hope the Minister might respond. Our sanctions are on individuals and on trade and goods, but they do not cover intermediaries or brokers or those who facilitate funds to the religious police or the IRGC. The sanctions are not under the human rights regime; they are under the trade regime, whereas the human rights regime can be expanded rapidly to ensure that those facilitating human rights abuses can also be covered. I know that the Minister will say that she will not comment, but can she comment on the fact that we are open to considering the human rights regime for sanctions, not just trade sanctions, and that is catered for under the countrywide regulations? The second loophole is that the lack of proscription for the IRGC means that those who provide support or financial assistance to it are also outwith the scope of UK actions. I hope the Minister will agree that, if there are any loopholes at this time, we must close them.

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Baroness Chapman of Darlington) (Lab)]

My Lords, I begin by echoing the words of both Front Benches about the bravery and courage of those who are taking to the streets at considerable risk to themselves. They are risking their lives and, we know in many cases so far, sacrificing their lives because they wish to live in freedom. They have every right to express that through protest, as they are, and it is met with dismay and shock. At the moment, it is estimated that there are around 2,000 dead, and around 10,000 being detained. It is expected that, when more is known when communications become more possible, those numbers may well increase.

The UK has made statements alongside France and Germany and others. We stay closely in contact with the US and other allies and partners. We have withdrawn UK-based embassy staff for obvious reasons, and this inevitably considerably limits the consular assistance that we are able to provide to UK nationals. We have advised for some time against all travel to Iran, and the assistance that we will be able to provide should anybody there get into difficulty or need support is incredibly limited. We advise those there to make plans to leave. It is very difficult, particularly if they wish to leave over land, because we advise against all travel to many of the neighbouring regions.

I was asked about personnel in Qatar. I do not know the answer to that. I can find out, and I am very happy to update the House on that, should that be appropriate.

On sanctions, we are actively considering what next steps we need to take. Noble Lords will notice the difference between that comment from the one they usually receive, but I am unable to say any more about that. We are considering proscription-like measures in respect of the IRGC. As noble Lords will know, Jonathan Hall has recently reviewed this. I am advised that there is a need to make amendments to the legal framework that is available because the legislation is currently not designed to deal with state-backed entities. I hinted at that the other day, and I think it is important to be clear about where we are on that.

On wider travel advice, we encourage people to monitor constantly the advice on the FCDO website, because there is every chance that it may well be revised. Those decisions are taken quickly, and the information is almost instantly available to the public.

The future vision for Iran is an important question. Our vision is entirely centred on the fact that it is for the people of Iran to make their own choice about how they wish to be governed. That is not something that they have at the moment. It is not for the United Kingdom to say what the Government of Iran ought to comprise and who that ought to be. I am sure that different people in this House will have very strongly held views about that, but from the Government’s perspective our principle that will guide us is that it is for the people of Iran to make that choice.