QUESTION TO THE FOREIGN SECRETARY FOLLOWING HIS STATEMENT ON IRAN
Nicholas Soames’s Question to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; The Rt Hon William Hague MP; following his statement on the UK’s policy towards Iran with the election of the new President, Dr Hassan Rouhani, on Monday, 17th June, 2013
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con): Everyone will hope that this election result will lead to better days for the Iranian people, but would my right hon. Friend agree that it is important not to go along with the lazy labelling of Dr Rouhani but to listen very carefully to what comes out of Iran and, as my right hon. Friend has said, to judge him entirely by what happens?
Mr Hague: Yes, absolutely. I think that that is a good phrase to remember: no lazy labelling. This is a very complex political system in which, we must remember, 678 candidates for the presidential election were disqualified, including all 30 of the women who attempted to stand; the political system is rather different from ours and is one in which human rights abuses are very serious. We should not have lazy labelling but should be open to improvements in relations and ready to reciprocate if the opportunity is there.