Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the amount owed by the Government to the government of Iran for Chieftain tanks bought by that government but never delivered; and if he will take steps to return that amount to the government of Iran.

This matter is being handled by International Military Services Limited (IMS). Negotiations are commerically sensitive and a confidentital matter between IMS and the Iranians.

The UK Government does not dispute the outcome of court hearings on this matter, but the current EU sanctions against the Iranian Ministry of Defence remain in force.