§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, columns 416–17W on the Iranian Foreign Minister, if he will define the countries in the area of strategic importance to the United Kingdom mentioned in his answer. [106568]
§ The Prime MinisterIran and her neighbouring countries represent an area of strategic importance to the United Kingdom for a number of reasons. Among these are the region's history of political instability and conflict, the importance of the region for world energy resources, and its position across important global communications routes. Iran also straddles the major route by which heroin reaches the United Kingdom from Afghanistan.