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Iran: Sanctions

Volume 479: debated on Monday 21 July 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the UN Security Council Committee on Iran sanctions established under UN Resolution 1737 (2006) has received information on alleged violations of measures imposed by Resolution (a) 1737 (2006), (b) 1747 (2007) and (c) 1803 (2008); and what action was taken in each case. (217313)

We are aware that the Committee has received notifications on two occasions. In one case, the state sending the notification requested that it remain confidential while a judicial investigation continued.

In the other case, the Committee discussed information that certain Iranian entities displayed items in the Defence Services Asia Exhibition, hosted by the Government of Malaysia. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted in the media as saying this constituted

“a direct contravention of Resolution[s] 1747 and 1803”.

The Committee also noted, as a result, that the Government of Malaysia closed down Iran's pavilion at the exhibition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the UN Security Council Committee on Iran sanctions established under UN Resolution 1737 (2006) has received a request for the sale, transfer or provision of items prohibited under paragraphs 3, 4 and 6 of that resolution; how many such requests have been granted; and on how many occasions such requests have been granted because Iran has stated it will not use such items in nuclear activities. (217314)

No requests for an exemption to the sale, transfer or provision of items prohibited under paragraphs 3, 4 and 6 of UN Security Council Resolution 1737 (2006) have been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of breaches of UN sanctions prohibiting the supply, sale or transfer of arms or related material from Iran; and if he will make a statement. (217315)

The UN Sanctions Committee is the appropriate forum for matters relating to breaches of sanctions. The Committee has received two notifications from UN member states covering potential breaches to the supply of weapons from Iran. In one case, the state sending the notification requested that it remain confidential while a judicial investigation continued. In the other case, the Committee discussed information that certain Iranian entities displayed items in the Defence Services Asia Exhibition, hosted by the Government of Malaysia. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted in the media as saying this constituted

“a direct contravention of Resolution[s] 1747 and 1803”.

The Committee also noted as a result that the Government of Malaysia closed down Iran's pavilion at the exhibition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many written reports have been submitted to the UN Security Council following an inspection of cargoes to and from Iran in accordance with paragraphs 11 and 12 of UN Security Council Resolution 1803; and if he will make a statement. (217317)

No reports have been submitted to the UN Security Council following an inspection of cargoes to and from Iran.