Iran-Israel Update Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Iran-Israel Update

Nicola Richards Excerpts
Monday 15th April 2024

(3 weeks, 1 day ago)

Commons Chamber
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Rishi Sunak Portrait The Prime Minister
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I am not going to speculate on hypotheticals. As I said, we have sent additional jets and air refuelling tankers to bolster our existing operation in the region. We will obviously keep next steps under review.

Nicola Richards Portrait Nicola Richards (West Bromwich East) (Con)
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Iran has smuggled arms into the middle east, including the west bank. It has equipped, funded and trained Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, as well as threatened British-Iranians on British soil—and that does not even include what Iran has done to its own people, not least gassing Iranian schoolgirls. I thank the Prime Minister for the strong action over the weekend. Does he agree that we must now consider proscribing the IRGC as a terrorist organisation?

Rishi Sunak Portrait The Prime Minister
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My hon. Friend is right to highlight Iran’s influence, including its missile shipments on the surrounding seas, and I am pleased that the United Kingdom is playing its part in doing something about that. HMS Diamond is bolstering our maritime presence in the region as we speak, and the UK has previously interdicted the supply of Iranian missiles being smuggled to the Houthis and others, both last year and the year before. We will continue to be vigilant in the area.