Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for stability in the Middle East of the government of Iran's intention (1) to enrich uranium up to 20 per cent purity, and (2) to produce uranium metal.

Iran's commencement of uranium enrichment up to 20% at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant has no credible civil justification and carries very significant proliferation-related risks. Iran also has no credible civilian use for uranium metal, which could provide knowledge gains applicable to a weapons programme. As recently published in a joint statement, the E3 has expressed its deep concern at these steps which are further Iranian violations of its JCPoA commitments. We strongly urge Iran to halt these activities and return to compliance with its nuclear commitments without delay. Regional stability and security would be deeply undermined if Iran was ever to achieve a nuclear weapons capability.