British Parliament on Iran Nuclear Talks
Parliamentary Motion Supported by 100 British MPs Calls on the UK Government to Take a Robust Position in Iran Nuclear Talks
On the eve of November 24 deadline for reaching a comprehensive final nuclear deal with Iran, a cross party panel of MPs and Peers warned about easing international pressure on the Iranian regime and called on the UK government and the Foreign Office to adopt a firm policy vis-à-vis Iran during the final stage of the negotiations.
Announcing the parliamentary motion (EDM342 Iran and Nuclear Weapons) supported by 100 MPs from all parties in the House of Commons, during a press conference in London on Thursday, November 20, the panellists warned that the Iranian regime is engaging in deceptive tactics to find a way out of nuclear impasse, so as to preserve their ability to obtain nuclear weapons.
In their motion, the MPs noted that “the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated recently that Iran has failed to address concerns about suspected nuclear weapons research”.
The Rt Hon. David Jones MP, who announced the EDM342 Iran and Nuclear Weapons, reiterated the calls by the 100 MPs who signed the parliamentary motion and said “while supporting Mrs Maryam Rajavi's movement for the revelations of the regime's secret nuclear weapons programme since for the past two decades, any nuclear agreement that does not include implementation of UN Security Council resolutions and a halt to enrichment of uranium in addition to the IAEA inspectors having unhindered access to all suspected sites will leave the path open for the regime to continue its ambition to create a nuclear arsenal”.
He concluded by echoing the remarks by the Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon. Philip Hammond MP and said, “we don't want to do a bad deal. Better then no deal than a bad deal”.
Sir Alan Meale MP said, “It is a dangerous thing for President Obama to say that we have a common enemy, Iranian regime and the United States. That common enemy is not ISIS, it is terrorism, sometimes state sponsored terrorism and Iranian regime is a regime that for years and years and years have exported state terrorism to the rest of the world. It is not satisfactory for the west to suddenly wake up and say we have a problem and that problem is ISIS and because of that we have to engage with other people who are themselves involved in terrorism.”
Lord Clarke of Hampstead CBE, speaking on behalf of the British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom, applauded the initiative by the MPs in House of Commons. “100 signatures for this EDM shows clearly that many MPs hold the view that the international community must continue to pressuring Iran on its nuclear programme, which can only be done through a firm position by the P5+1 and maintaining the international sanctions”, he added.
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass, highlighted the Iranian regime's illicit attempts to circumvent international sanctions and emphasised that the world must not be fooled by Rouhani's smiles. The Iranian regime not only duped the west but also bragged about it.
Hossein Abedini from the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the Iranian opposition that in August 2002 disclosed the existence of secret nuclear facility in Natanz and heavy water facility in Arak for the first time, elaborated on NCRI's revelations regarding the Iranian regime's clandestine nuclear programme and its illicit nuclear activities at Parchin military facility.
He stressed that the NCRI revelations had triggered for the first time, inspection of Iranian nuclear sites by the IAEA and added, “while the mullahs are at a strategic deadlock and are feeling the heat at home, and as their regional strategy has floundered, it will be a huge mistake to offer concessions to the mullahs at the negotiation tables. Mullahs are at a very weak footing and are not in a position to demand any concession.”
During the conference, the release of a comprehensive report by the International Committee In Search of Justice (ISJ) on the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear programme, was announced. This report was presented earlier on Thursday in Brussels by the President of ISJ, Alejo VidalQuadras, former VicePresident of European Parliament and Professor of Atomic and Nuclear Physics.
The study by ISJ reviewed all the available information on 10 of the most serious outstanding issues between the Iranian regime and the IAEA and concludes unequivocally that two systems have been fully functional during the past two decades. A civilian system includes Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization and universities, while a military system constitutes the secret aspect of this programme.
According to the ISJ study, “these two structures resemble two concentric circles, working in tandem. Over the years, the military part of the programme has gone through reorganisation or name changes but has moved forward. According to available information, records, and documents, the military aspect of the programme has been and remains at the heart of Iran's nuclear activities.”
The ISJ report establishes that “Tehran has worked systematically on all the necessary aspects of obtaining nuclear weapons, such as enrichment, weaponization, warhead, and delivery system.”
ENDS