UK Inquiry Tracker

The UK and Iran

Foreign Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 17 Mar 2020 Closed: 26 Feb 2021 Parliament page

This inquiry will explore the basis of the engagement between the UK and Iran, what it has comprised, and how successful it has been in securing the UK’s foreign-policy objectives. As well as considering both sides of the bilateral relationship, the inquiry will also look at the approaches and priorities … Read more

23 Recommendations

12 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Event

Activity timeline 3 events

26 Feb
2021

Report published

Ninth Special Report: No prosperity without justice: the UK’s relationship with Iran: Government Response to Committee’s Fifth Report Ninth

16 Dec
2020

Report published

Fifth report: No prosperity without justice: the UK’s relationship with Iran

7 Jul
2020

Informal meeting · Virtual meeting

Foreign Affairs Committee

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Fifth report: No prosperity without justice: the UK’s relationsh…	HC 415	16 Dec 2020	35	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

14 results

54 Conclusion Acknowledged

Fifth report: No prosperity withou…

In 2019, the FCDO commissioned a review into the department’s handling of complex consular cases.

In 2019, the FCDO commissioned a review into the department’s handling of complex consular cases. The review was conducted by Dame Judith MacGregor and focused on how the department balances the needs of the individual with the needs of the … Read more

Government Response

The government notes the committee's summary of the MacGregor Review, reaffirms its commitment to implementing the review's key findings and recommendations, and expects to provide updates through ongoing engagement with the Committee.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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57 Recommendation Acknowledged

Fifth report: No prosperity withou…

The FCDO’s current approach to consular disputes is clearly not working.

The FCDO’s current approach to consular disputes is clearly not working. The Key Performance Indicator remains the unconditional and timely release of detained nationals. In this, the range of tools on offer is entirely ineffectual and requires revision. The FCDO … Read more

Government Response

The government notes the committee's views, agrees on the importance of working with allies, and states it will continue to discuss with partners how best to raise arbitrary detention cases, while reiterating ongoing efforts for consular access and medical care.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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59 Conclusion Acknowledged

Fifth report: No prosperity withou…

The FCDO has rightly stated that the detention of British and dual nationals by Iran...

The FCDO has rightly stated that the detention of British and dual nationals by Iran falls outside the parameters of the Convention which was clearly designed for the specific purpose of combatting individual hostage-takers, rather than state-backed actors.134 Nevertheless, witnesses … Read more

Government Response

The government notes the committee's observation, reiterates its rejection of dual British nationals being used as diplomatic leverage, and states it will continue to consider the 1979 Convention and use international fora to call out arbitrary detention.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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60 Conclusion Acknowledged

Fifth report: No prosperity withou…

Witnesses involved with some of the higher-profile detentions of UK and dual nationals by Iran...

Witnesses involved with some of the higher-profile detentions of UK and dual nationals by Iran were keen to highlight the benefits which might be gained in defining the term. Charlie Loudon from REDRESS, which has acted on behalf of Nazanin … Read more

Government Response

The government notes the committee's point, affirms its stance against dual nationals being used as diplomatic leverage, and states it will continue to use international fora and discuss with likeminded countries to raise concerns about arbitrary detention, without committing to new frameworks or definitions.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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61 Conclusion Acknowledged

Fifth report: No prosperity withou…

Charlie Loudon was measured in characterising other countries as more or less successful than the...

Charlie Loudon was measured in characterising other countries as more or less successful than the UK and noted that while that might appear to be an accurate assessment, “There is a lack of authoritative publicly available data on the different … Read more

Government Response

The government notes the committee's observations, asserting it does not accept dual British nationals being used as diplomatic leverage, and will continue to use UN and international fora to call out such behavior and discuss cases of arbitrary detention.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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64 Conclusion Acknowledged

Fifth report: No prosperity withou…

Our predecessor Committee reported on the UK’s sanctions policy after Brexit and explored the possibility...

Our predecessor Committee reported on the UK’s sanctions policy after Brexit and explored the possibility of using Magnitsky sanctions against human rights abusers.146 The Foreign Secretary announced the UK’s first round of Magnitsky-style sanctions in July 2020 against nationals of … Read more Our predecessor Committee reported on the UK’s sanctions policy after Brexit and explored the possibility of using Magnitsky sanctions against human rights abusers.146 The Foreign Secretary announced the UK’s first round of Magnitsky-style sanctions in July 2020 against nationals of Russia, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar and North Korea.147 Iran was notable by its absence, particularly as the international community is aware of many individuals within Iran known to have committed human rights abuses.148 Behnam Ben Taleblu told us that Global Magnitsky sanctions can and should be used to punish those engaged in human rights violations or gross acts of government corruption. […] The exact scale and scope of the penalty can be highlighted when being issued, and should remain in place until the behavior–in this case the detention of UK nationals–ceases by the relevant authority.149 The assessment was shared by Charlie Loudon who noted that “Magnitsky sanctions are well-suited to supporting behavioural change”.150 However, Dr Van Engeland took the opposite view, noting that sanctions could increase scrutiny on human rights but would be resented by already heavily sanctioned Iranians who would not draw an obvious link between sanctions and detained British and dual nationals.151 The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly MP, noted in correspondence to us in August that the FCDO would “continue to designate under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations” and stressed the importance of ensuring “that all designations are underlined by a robust evidence case, ensuring that legal tests and policy objectives are met” but would not be drawn further.152 145 Tulip Siddiq MP (UKI0032), para 65 146 Foreign Affairs Committee, Seventeenth Report of Session 2017–19, Fragmented and incoherent: the UK’s sanctions policy, HC 1703, paras 11–19 147 UK announces first sanctions under new global human rights regime, FCO, 6 July 2020 148 Report to Congress List of Persons W Show less

Government Response

The government noted the committee's observation, stating they already impose sanctions against Iranians under a separate human rights regime and the Global Human Rights Sanctions regime, and will continue to consider future designations without speculating on specific targets.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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65 Recommendation Acknowledged

Fifth report: No prosperity withou…

Iran’s human rights record and selective commitment to upholding international law is a threat to...

Iran’s human rights record and selective commitment to upholding international law is a threat to the rules based international system generally, and a key challenge faced when aiding detained nationals specifically. The FCDO has admirably used international fora to exert … Read more

Government Response

The government notes the recommendation, highlighting existing UK sanctions regimes against Iranians involved in human rights violations, and states it will continue to consider future sanctions designations without speculating on specific individuals.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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68 Recommendation Acknowledged

Fifth report: No prosperity withou…

Engagement with Iran should not be an end goal in and of itself.

Engagement with Iran should not be an end goal in and of itself. Rather, engagement should seek to encourage Iran to play a positive, constructive and predictable role as a regional power, which uses international norms, respect for human rights … Read more

Government Response

The government agreed with the committee's conclusion, affirming that the UK-Iran bilateral relationship is a key policy tool and that the UK will continue to keep the diplomatic door open and send clear messages regarding engagement, nuclear compliance, and Iran's regional role.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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1 Conclusion Acknowledged

Fifth report: No prosperity withou…

Disunity in addressing the nuclear issue, especially between the US and the E3, has not...

Disunity in addressing the nuclear issue, especially between the US and the E3, has not served the UK’s interests. Instead, it has disincentivised Iranian engagement with the West and presented an opportunity for Russia and China to pursue their respective … Read more

Government Response

The government acknowledged the observation, stating it shares the strategic aim of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, emphasizes the importance of aligned international diplomatic effort, and welcomes President Biden's commitment to re-enter the JCPoA.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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2 Conclusion Acknowledged

Fifth report: No prosperity withou…

A significant weakness of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 was its failure to prohibit Iran...

A significant weakness of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 was its failure to prohibit Iran from developing ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads. In a treaty fundamentally designed to deliver non-proliferation assurances, it is entirely reasonable that the JCPOA … Read more

Government Response

The government acknowledges the committee's point about UNSCR 2231 being a compromise, expresses serious concerns about Iran's ballistic missile program, and urges Iran to abide by existing resolutions, without committing to place new binding restrictions as the committee suggested would be reasonable.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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3 Recommendation Acknowledged

Fifth report: No prosperity withou…

Iran could be more forthcoming when granting access for IAEA inspections.

Iran could be more forthcoming when granting access for IAEA inspections. Additionally, Iran has publicly stated it would not allow inspection of military sites, despite such visits falling within the terms of the JCPOA. These actions undermine political confidence in … Read more

Government Response

The government noted the recommendation and agreed on the importance of IAEA access, outlining its clear stance that Iran must comply and its efforts to express concern and urge Iran to continue provisional implementation of the Additional Protocol, but did not commit to introducing additional penalties or provisions.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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5 Conclusion Acknowledged

Fifth report: No prosperity withou…

Given the historically covert nature of Iran’s nuclear programme, the lack of good faith it...

Given the historically covert nature of Iran’s nuclear programme, the lack of good faith it has shown in supporting the free and timely inspection efforts of the IAEA, and recent evidence indicating the military dimensions to its nuclear efforts of … Read more

Government Response

The government noted the committee's conclusion, clarifying that Iran's program is currently subject to the most comprehensive IAEA monitoring under the JCPoA, with increased inspector access, and reiterated that Iran must fully cooperate.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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15 Recommendation Acknowledged

Fifth report: No prosperity withou…

The FCDO’s current approach to consular disputes is clearly not working.

Government Response

The government notes the committee's views, agrees on the importance of working with allies, and commits to continuing discussions and pressing Iran for consular access and release of detained nationals, while emphasizing actions are taken in the best interests of detainees.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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17 Recommendation Acknowledged

Fifth report: No prosperity withou…

Iran’s human rights record and selective commitment to upholding international law is a threat to...

Government Response

The government noted the recommendation, explained its existing sanctions regimes, and stated it would continue to consider future designations without speculating on specific targets, thus not explicitly committing to prioritising Iranian human rights abusers for the next round of Magnitsky sanctions.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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Government Response AI assessment · 35 of 23 classified

Accepted 14

Accepted in Part 1

Acknowledged 14

Deferred 1

Not Addressed 2

Rejected 3

Total 23 recs + 12 conclusions