§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has(a) made and (b) proposes to make on the forthcoming visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister to the UK and (c) on his forthcoming visit to Iran concerning the position of the 13 Iranian Jews detained in Iran on alleged spying charges; and if he will make a statement. [94411]
§ Mr. HainWe and our EU partners have pressed the Iranian authorities over this case and will continue to do so. As long ago as 20 May the German EU Presidency expressed concern at these detentions on behalf of EU member states, and a formal EU demarche to the Iranian government took place on 30 June.
We have also told the Iranians of our concern bilaterally, both in Tehran and in London. We have pressed for a fair and open trial, and access for visitors and legal representatives. We have also pressed for access 633W for independent observers at any trial. Most recently the Foreign Secretary made these points to the Iranian Ambassador on 29 July. I reiterated them to him on 4 August. The Foreign Secretary also pressed Foreign Minister Kharrazi on this issue during their meeting at the United Nations General Assembly on 21 September. Our Ambassador in Tehran has spoken similarly to the Iranian authorities there.
Neither the agenda for the Secretary of State's visit to Iran, nor Foreign Minister Kharrazi's visit here, have yet been decided. Should this issue still not be resolved, we will raise it again.