§ Mr. McCabeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Iranian authorities regarding the political trial of Abdullah Noun; and what assessment he has made of 263W the implications of the trial for (a) United Kingdom-Iran relations and (b) the parliamentary elections promised for February. [100617]
§ Mr. HainWe and our EU partners have been following closely the trial by the Court of the Clergy of Abdullah Nouri, for which sentence was passed on 28 November.
How Mr. Nouri's sentencing to five years imprisonment will effect February's Majles elections is a matter for speculation. We hope that the elections will take place in as free and fair conditions as possible. It is too early to say what impact Mr. Nouri's conviction will have on UK/Iran relations.