§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about Iran developing nuclear weapons and purchasing ballistic missiles; what information he has on this matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David DavisThe Government remain deeply concerned at reports that Iran is interested in developing nuclear weapons and in acquiring ballistic missiles. We discuss such reports regularly with our partners in the missile technology control regime and nuclear suppliers group. We remain firmly committed to strengthening international efforts to combat the proliferation of both nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy with regard to Iran's nuclear power programme.
§ Mr. David DavisIran is a state party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency. All of Iran's nuclear facilities are under IAEA safeguards, and open to inspection. But we remain concerned at reports that Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Since March 1993, we have decided that, with two exceptions, licence applications for significant nuclear items destined for Iran should not be approved.
It is also our policy not to approve items for Iran where there is knowledge or reason to suspect that it would go to a military end-user or be used for military purposes.