Synopsis: |
"Global Security: Iran (HC 142)" examines global security in relation to Iran and is the third such report from the Foreign Affairs Committee, the two previous reports focusing on the Middle East (HC 363, ISBN 9780215035844) and Russia (HC 51, ISBN 9780215037411) respectively. An earlier report on the UK's relationship with Iran was published in 2004 ("Iran (HC 80)", ISBN 9780215016119) and this report further explores issues, in particular the challenge posed by the Iranian nuclear programme.The issues considered in this report include: the extent of the progress Iran has made on nuclear development; the relationship between Iran's domestic political and human rights situation and its nuclear ambitions; the relationship between Iran's regional and international security situation and its nuclear ambitions; the regional and global implications of Iran's nuclear programme; the history of international engagement with Iran over nuclear non-proliferation; and, the options open to the international community in addressing the possibility of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.The conclusions and recommendations include: the Committee views the potential to develop a nuclear programme as still remaining strong, despite Iran's suspension of an active nuclear wepons programme; te Committee welcomes the supply of enriched uranium by Russia but feels that the international community's diplomatic approach is a long way from achieving all its goals; te Committee condemns unreservedly President Ahmadinejad's call for the destruction of Israel and his hosting of a Holocaust denial conference; Iranian support for Iraqi insurgents has been responsible for the death of coalition troops and is completely unacceptable and reprehensible; and, the Government needs to set out it's analysis of the levels of training, weaponry, and finance provided by elements of the Iranian regime. |