Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of additional sanctions against Iran to help prevent manufacture and supply of drones used for attacks against (a) Ukraine, (b) Israel and (c) Saudi Arabia.

Iran's supply of weapons, including unmanned aerial vehicles, to state and non-state actors continues to pose a serious threat to international security. Iran's provision of weapons and military support to the Houthis is in clear breach of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2216 and the supply of drones to Russia is in violation on UNSCR 2231. Reporting suggests that Iran was behind a recent UAV attack on Israeli-owned MV Pacific Zircon. We will work with partners to ensure that those responsible are held to account.

The UK has sanctioned over 300 Iranian individuals and entities for their role in weapons proliferation, human rights abuses, and terrorism, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in its entirety. On 20 October, the Government issued new sanctions targeting Iranian individuals and businesses responsible for supplying Russia with drones. We urge Iran to uphold their obligations under international law and cease illegal activity which is escalating the conflict in Ukraine and threatening civilian lives.