HL Deb 12 December 1996 vol 576 c97WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Foreign Secretary was correctly reported by the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz on 21st November as having "agreed" with the Israeli Defence Minister "that an effort must be made to prevent the expansion of Iran's nuclear development project", and, if so, whether this agreement extends to an Israeli attack like that on Iraq's nuclear development project in 1981, which was deemed illegal by Her Majesty's Government.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary discussed with the Israeli Defence Minister on 20th November various matters, including reports that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons. The possibility of military action was not discussed. The United Kingdom supported UN Security Council Resolution 487, which condemned the Israeli attack on the Iraqi nuclear installation at Osiraq.