§ Mr. HainTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list each date when changes were made to the guidelines covering defence-related exports to(a) Iran and (b) Iraq since 1979.
§ Mr. Hurd[holding answer 24 November 1992]:Restrictions on Iran had been in force since the seizure of the American hostages in 1979, and on Iraq since the outbreak of the Iraq/Iran conflict in 1980. Guidelines applying to all deliveries of defence equipment to Iran and Iraq were introduced in December 1984 and announced on 29 October 1985. These were as follows:
- (i) We should maintain our consistent refusal to supply any lethal equipment to either side.
- (ii) Subject to that overriding consideration, we should attempt to fulfil existing contracts and obligations.
- (iii) We should not, in future, approve orders for any defence equipment which, in our view, would significantly enhance the capability of either side to prolong or exacerbate the conflict.
- (iv) In line with this policy, we should continue to scrutinise rigorously all applications for export licences for the supply of defence equipment to Iran and Iraq.
The development and application of the guidelines in relation to Iraq are within the terms of reference of the Scott inquiry.
Since 1991, guidelines for deliveries of defence equipment to Iran have been as follows:
- (i) We should maintain our consistent refusal to supply any lethal equipment to either side.
- (ii) Subject to that overriding consideration, we should attempt to fulfil existing contracts and obligations.
- (iii) We should not in future approve orders for any equipment which, in our view, would significantly enhance Iran's military capability.
- (iv) In line with this policy, we should continue to scrutinise rigorously all applications for export licences for the supply of defence equipment to Iran.