Asked by: Lesley Laird (Labour - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal on stability in the Middle East.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK noted with concern and regret the US decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). The UK continues to view the JCPOA as important for our shared security and for stability in the Middle East, through its role in neutralising the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. In his statement to the House on 9 May, the Foreign Secretary was clear that the UK will remain a party to the deal as long as Iran continues to comply with its commitments. We will strive to preserve the gains made by the JCPoA, while continuing to engage with all our partners on how to address shared concerns about Iran's ballistic missile programme and destabilising regional activity.