Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Paragraph: 66
The UK has been most successful at securing its objectives vis-à-vis Iran when it has...
Conclusion
The UK has been most successful at securing its objectives vis-à-vis Iran when it has committed to a long-term strategy alongside international partners. However, the UK’s relationship with Iran is bigger than Iran’s nuclear violations, malign regional activity, or human rights abuses. It is also a relationship between cultures and peoples and the story of their shared interests. Consequently, the FCDO should be prepared to accept that the UK’s existing relationships with the E3 and US, while important, cannot offer the fullest structure for diplomacy. The FCDO needs a renewed focus on understanding the motivations behind the actions of the Iranian State, and a clear effort needs to be made to differentiate between the Iranian State and the Iranian people.
Paragraph Reference:
66
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
We agree that the UK-Iran relationship, like all relationships between States, is rooted in part in a shared history between our peoples. We are clear on the distinction between the actions of the Iranian State and its people. We do not see our relationship with Iran as being exclusively structured via our relationships with the E3 or the US, but as the Committee itself notes it is crucial that the UK work in partnership with its friends and allies if it is to effectively secure its objectives. We do not see any inherent tension between working closely with the E3 and the US and our bilateral relationship with Iran. We place value on our engagement in Tehran, on the importance of understanding the motivations behind the actions of the Iranian State and the interests and rights of ordinary Iranians. We want this relationship to be stronger. To strengthen our bilateral engagement, the FCDO has increased the numbers of people trained in Farsi language for postings in Iran, and has extended some of the tour lengths. We also continue to increase the depth of expertise across the network through a wide-ranging programme of contacts with think tanks and other experts.