Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to respond to the emails from the hon. Member for Brighton Pavilion of 23 May, 25 May and 7 June 2023 on the impending execution of Mohmmad Ghobadloo in Iran; what discussions and contact his Department has had with Iran's Chargé d'Affaires on that case; and if he will make a statement.

A response to the email dated 23 May is in process and we aim to respond within 20 working days as per the Cabinet Office guidelines. The FCDO have no record of the emails dated 25 May and 7 June. Please can these be resent to FCDO.Correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk.

The UK Government is firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances and every country, including Iran. We raise our objections to executions of protesters at all appropriate opportunities, including with the Iranian Embassy in London and through our Ambassador in Tehran. On 19 May the Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon condemned Iran's continued use of the death penalty to instil fear and suppress dissent. On 9 January and 8 December, the Foreign Secretary ordered the summoning of Iran's most senior diplomat in the UK, to protest Iran's continued imposition of the death penalty on protesters. We will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure Iran is held to account on the world stage.