House of Lords

Iran: Missile Threat

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: My Lords, can the Minister confirm that there are parallel concerns over Iran’s development of long-range missiles? That, of course, refers to its illicit and deceitful development of nuclear weapons. Can he tell the House, in broad terms if necessary, what was agreed at the meeting of the Ministers yesterday in trying to frame a new resolution for the Security Council to signal to the Iranian regime that the international community and the region of which it is a part will not tolerate it developing nuclear weapons?

Lord Triesman: My Lords, the United Nations is very clear, since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1737, that we cannot accept or tolerate the development of nuclear weapons. We entirely remain supporters of people’s right to have peaceful nuclear energy programmes. The United Nations resolution also includes sanctions against any potential delivery systems, including missile technology control provisions. All those remain at the centre of discussions that have been taking place this week. Those discussions have not yet reached a conclusion.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldhansrd/text/70226-0001.htm