John Baron MP presses Government on Iran Nuclear Deal

MP secures Urgent Question

Today in the House of Commons, John Baron MP secured an Urgent Question on the future of the Iran Nuclear Deal. A year ago today, the US Government unilaterally withdrew from the deal, and recently has announced a forthcoming expansion of oil sanctions to all countries which buy oil from Iran, whilst despatching an aircraft carrier to the Gulf. This morning the Iranian Government announced it would stop adhering to parts of the deal if there is no relief from proposed oil and financial sanctions.

In the House of Commons, John said,

“This deal was the product of over a decade of diplomacy, and at the time helped to avert regional conflict. The US, UK and Israel came close to military strikes in 2012, and I tabled a back bench debate at the time calling for more diplomacy and less sabre-rattling.”

“We should be clear the UN has stated that Iran has abided by the deal. I would therefore like to know what further steps the Government intend to take to save this deal, because whatever it is doing in its diplomacy with the US, it is not succeeding. We need to remember that nuclear proliferation in the region is very likely should this deal fail, which could only lead to greater instability.”

“We all acknowledge that Iran has links with various terrorist groups in the region, but we also need to recognise that when it comes to international relations, the leap from imperfection to perfection is rarely in one bound. It usually involves a series of small steps, and what is important is the direction of travel.”

The Minister of State, Rt Hon Mark Field MP, responded that the UK Government remains committed to the deal, and for as long as Iran abides by it, it will implement it too.

John said afterwards,

“I am pleased the Government remains supportive of the deal, and hope that our diplomats are making it clear to both the Iranian and US governments about what is potentially at stake. But the Government needs to do more. A conflict in the region would have dire repercussions globally.”