Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gerald Jones and Boris Johnson

Tuesday 22nd November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Gerald Jones (Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney) (Lab)]

14. What discussions he has had with the incoming US Administration on their policy on the nuclear agreement with Iran.

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Boris Johnson)]

The Government remain committed to the nuclear deal with Iran, and we look forward to working with the new Administration in the United States to ensure that it is a success.

[Gerald Jones]

As the Foreign Secretary may know, people sometimes say things during election campaigns that are falsehoods or exaggerations in order to win. Can he provide any assurance that that was the case when President-elect Trump called the agreement with Iran

“the worst deal ever negotiated”?

[Boris Johnson]

I am not going to get into a commentary on the election campaign that has just taken place in the United States. All I can say is that we in this Government think that there is merit in the deal. There has been a considerable increase in trade with Iran since sanctions were lifted—a 40% increase in UK trade. Deals have recently been announced by Lotus and Vodafone, so we should be positive about our engagement and keep the thing on the road.