Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 87
There is compelling evidence that the repayment of the IMS debt became a precondition for...
Conclusion
There is compelling evidence that the repayment of the IMS debt became a precondition for the release of UK nationals from Iran. The failure to pay it sooner was highly regrettable and almost certainly adversely affected the length of detentions by limiting diplomatic options for negotiating an earlier release and brought significant suffering.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government says the IMS debt created a unique situation, the debt resolution was complex, domestic and international litigation lengthened the process, and it would not have been appropriate to pay a debt still under consideration by a court.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
87
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
57. The IMS debt was discharged in full compliance with UK and international sanctions and global counter-terrorism financing and anti-money laundering regulations. As set out Stolen years: combatting state hostage diplomacy: Government Response 17 in paragraph 54, the debt was subject to litigation and discharging it in a legal, sanctions- compliant manner was complicated by a range of technical factors and required extensive negotiation with Iran. Successive Ministers and officials worked at pace to achieve this at the earliest opportunity.
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