Oral Answers to Questions

John Leech Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd December 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hague]

As I reflect on the answers I have just given, I can assure the hon. Gentleman that I shall consider them to have been very good answers. European Scrutiny Committee reports should always be taken extremely seriously. The Committee looks at issues in great detail, the Government respond to them in detail and many are debated in this House.

[Mr John Leech (Manchester, Withington) (LD)]

11. What assessment he has made of recent developments in the UK’s relations with Iran.

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr William Hague)]

We are upgrading our bilateral relations on a step-by-step basis, including through the appointment of non-resident chargés d’affaires, direct contact between the Prime Minister and President Rouhani, and meetings between officials. Our dialogue with Iran has covered bilateral relations, the nuclear issue and Syria.

[Mr Leech]

I thank the Foreign Secretary for that answer. While I welcome all efforts to improve relations with Iran to encourage peace and stability in the whole region, will he assure me that we will continue to take a tough stance on the treatment of opposition groups and minorities by the Iranian authorities?