Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Accepted
The Iranian people are the victims of the poor choices made by the Iranian state,...
Recommendation
The Iranian people are the victims of the poor choices made by the Iranian state, yet they are too often a secondary consideration. The UK’s strategy going forward should rebalance this oversight. For the UK-Iran relationship to be meaningful and mutually beneficial, the UK must invest in strengthening cultural ties, fostering exchanges, and building upon common values shared with the Iranian people. (Paragraph 46) No prosperity without justice: the UK’s relationship with Iran 29
Government response summary AI-generated
The government agrees on the mutual benefit of enhancing cultural ties and states it has consistently supported such exchanges without erecting barriers, but highlights Iran's criminalisation of cooperation as an obstacle, confirming continued support and defence of the British Council.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
We agree with the Committee that enhancing cultural and other people-to-people ties between the UK and Iran would be of mutual benefit. We have consistently supported such exchanges. The UK has not erected any barriers to such exchanges taking place. We deeply regret Iran’s unjustifiable criminalisation of cooperation with the British Council. The Government continues to provide support and advice to the Council, and defends it repeatedly at the highest levels in Iran.
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