Contributions
1,454 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDIran DetaineesWe approach our relations with all countries without fear or favour. We are prepared to be honest with countries about human rights practices, which is exactly what the Prime…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesIn resolving the issue of the IMS debt and resolving the issue of these particular unfairly detained people, we have dealt with two of the major issues facing the UK and Iran. Of…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesMy hon. Friend is right to pay tribute to the family, to Richard Ratcliffe for all his campaigning work and to our negotiating team, who have worked day in, day out, including in…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesMy hon. Friend is right. We have always been clear that this is legitimately owed money that the UK should pay. Due to the complexities, this has been a difficult issue. We have…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesThis is an issue that the Foreign Office has been working on tirelessly for many years. Given that there was a new Government in Tehran last summer, there was an opportunity to…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesWe are all very pleased that the families are able to be reunited. In dealing with the issue, on which I have been working since I became Foreign Secretary in September, there are…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesMy right hon. Friend is entirely correct. That is why it is so important that the west and the wider free world have stepped up in the Ukraine crisis. For too many years we did…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesMy right hon. and learned Friend makes a very effective point about sanctions. What we are seeing today in Russia—the fact that the Government of Russia are struggling to finance…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesThis issue has touched the hearts of the British public, as we all know from what we have received in our postbags. Who could fail to be moved by the courage and tenacity shown by…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesMinister Badr and the Omani Government have been incredibly helpful in assisting us with this issue and I want to pay tribute. They flew the detainees out to Muscat. I have been…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesThe right hon. Gentleman is right that we need to change the practice of countries detaining other countries’ nationals unfairly. That is precisely what we are working on with our…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesOn the right hon. Gentleman’s first point, I assure him that I will not give up until I have fixed the Northern Ireland protocol. These long-standing issues with Iran have been…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesWe will continue to support British nationals in Iran. All the families have been provided with consular support and support from our officials, and I am proud of the support that…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesOn the individual whom the right hon. Gentleman named, I must respect the individual’s request of whether their case should be raised in public. That is why we mention publicly…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesIt is correct that we have very strong concerns about Iran’s ability to acquire a nuclear weapon. That is why we have been working so closely with our allies, through the joint…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesOur Omani friends have been extremely helpful in working with us to help transport the detainees between Tehran and the United Kingdom, and in working with us on some of the…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesOn the hon. Gentleman’s first point, I am afraid I cannot comment on individual cases, even to the extent of talking about the number of individual cases; I am afraid I cannot do…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesI thank the hon. Lady for her tireless campaigning, and also for her patience in the last 24 hours. She and I have had a number of conversations, and it was only when we heard…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesFirst, it is important to note that these are two parallel issues in our bilateral relationship, namely settling the IMS debt—a legitimate debt that the UK Government were due to…16 Mar 2022HANSARDIran DetaineesI pay tribute to the hon. Lady for her tireless campaigning on the issue. I share her sense of anxiety. There were some very anxious moments this afternoon as we waited for wheels…16 Mar 2022