Iran

14:54:00

Lord Astor of Hever
asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What assessment they have made of Iran’s influence on events in Iraq, Afghanistan and international seaways.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman)
My Lords, Iran is an influential player in the Middle East, including in maritime areas. There are many close ties between Iran and its neighbours, Iraq and Afghanistan. The Iranian Government have committed to support the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to build security and stability. We welcome Iran’s efforts to stem the flow of illegal narcotics across the Iran-Afghanistan border.

Lord Astor of Hever
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. The recent provocative Iranian exercises in the Gulf, with new anti-ship missiles and practice attacks on barges, demonstrate an ability to disrupt sea traffic in that vital international waterway. Can the Minister confirm that we have sufficient Royal Navy ships in the area to protect our right of free passage?

Lord Triesman
My Lords, I understand that the Iranian navy has traditionally been the smallest element of its armed forces, but with a significant headquarters in the Strait of Hormuz and smaller bases in the Caspian Sea and the northern Gulf. It plainly has an ability to exercise considerable influence over waterways in that area, and could have the ability to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. There are grounds for thinking that our forces and forces of other members of the international community could dissuade it from doing so, but that would depend to some extent on whether it showed good sense and international community spirit in how it operated.

Lord Anderson of Swansea
My Lords, it is clear that Iran is playing a negative role, not only in the area mentioned by the noble Lord, Lord Astor, but in other areas—such as encouraging Hezbollah and Hamas. Yet the old Soviet Union played such a negative role in the past, and in response we decided to contain and engage with all the instruments of soft power available to us. Are there not serious lessons to be learnt now regarding Iran from that experience, and is it not quite wrong that the US—contrary to our interests and general western interests—refuses to parlay with Iran in areas of important interest worldwide?

Lord Triesman
My Lords, this Government have decided that they wish to keep channels of communication open and fruitful, and they are engaged with others, particularly on the Iranian nuclear portfolio. That has all been broadly helpful, and there is a good deal of co-operation among a number of nations, including the United States, around UN Security Council Resolution 1737. I take the view that diplomatic discussions and the attempts to persuade Iran to take a different route remain absolutely fundamental to our efforts. I comment only on our own efforts in that regard; they are the right way to go.

Lord Hannay of Chiswick
My Lords, could the noble Lord confirm that it remains government policy to support the recommendation of the Baker-Hamilton report that Iran, along with Iraq’s other neighbours, needs to be firmly engaged in an effort to stabilise Iraq? What are the Government doing about getting that support?

Lord Triesman
My Lords, we continue to work to engage with Iran, as I said in my opening comments. We have, alongside that, made clear our objections to the interference that has taken place in Iraq, but that does not alter the general trajectory of diplomatic approach as a key implement in this matter. We are trying to ensure that all those who engage in the international community take that view.

Lord Garden
My Lords, in the light of the Minister’s answers, what discussions have Her Majesty’s Government had with Iran in the past 12 months about mutual security interests in Iraq, Afghanistan and the international seaways?

Lord Triesman
My Lords, discussions have taken place on a number of occasions. Through the Foreign Secretary, we have sought to have discussions through normal diplomatic routes. In all those cases, we are trying to get normalisation and stability in arrangements around the international seaways.

Lord Roberts of Conwy
My Lords, can the noble Lord confirm what is stated in a letter in the Times today—namely, that Iran contributed to the defeat of al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan? What sort of value and assessment have the Government made of that contribution regarding the future in Afghanistan?

Lord Triesman
My Lords, I think there is some evidence—admittedly it has not been shared widely because a good deal of it has come through confidential and intelligence sources—about a contribution in that area. There may well need to be an assessment of what has been said in the Times before a more detailed report can be given. I am sure that the House will accept that some areas of this will never—at least, not in my lifetime—be susceptible to detailed analysis.

Lord Wedderburn of Charlton
My Lords, the Minister speaks of keeping channels open. Will the Government renew their support for groups inside Iran that are pressing peacefully for democratic change? Will they reconsider the freezing of their assets in the way that is objectionable in the light of a court of the European Union in Luxembourg?

Lord Triesman
My Lords, we always encourage those who pursue democratic processes, but we will not seek to interfere directly in the internal affairs of a country that has those groups in it. I am sure that they would not necessarily welcome us doing so. We have been consistent in our support for those who have argued for a richer civil society. A great deal of work has been done in support of that civil society, and that is probably the way in which we will see the flowering of a far more pluralistic society in Iran.

Lord Howell of Guildford
My Lords, does the Minister agree that one area where we might work very positively with the Iranians is on the difficult question of controlling poppy cultivation in Afghanistan? The Iranians have considerable experience and quite a good track record in that area. Despite all the difficulties that we have to handle, and the rather aggressive approach of some of the Iranian pronouncements, could we not work positively with them in that area where success is badly needed because, frankly, the drug problem is getting worse?

Lord Triesman
My Lords, that is an entirely practical suggestion, and work has started in order to deal with issues of border security and eradication. It is in the interests of the Iranian people and most certainly in the interests of the people of the United Kingdom that we pursue that kind of work and succeed in it.