U.K. FOREIGN POLICY STATEMENT BY MARGARET BECKETT,
U.K. FOREIGN SECRETARY
U.K. FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
January 24, 2007
Excerpts
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Iran continues to supply weapons, training and funding to extremists operating in the south of Iraq and to Hizbollah in Lebanon.
The Iranians should be in no doubt that - in the long-term - they have as much to lose as anyone else, if not more, from encouraging instability in Iraq.
Here, as elsewhere, the Iranian regime has a very clear strategic choice to make. On the one hand it can provide its young and very talented population with all the benefits they would get from a new partnership with the rest of the international community. To do that they must meet the requirements of the IAEA Board backed by UN Security Council over their nuclear programme; play a constructive role in Iraq, in the Middle East Peace Process and across the region; and end their support for terrorism.
The alternative option is for the Iranian regime to lead its country and its people into increasing political, economic and cultural isolation.
Iran has consistently tried to portray itself as the victim of a vindictive Uled solely by the US and UK. They hoped to exploit perceived differences between members of the Security Council. But they have badly and repeatedly misjudged the situation. At the end of last year the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1737. It is plain even to the government of Iran that the entire international community calls on Iran to meet its obligations.
Iran must also meet its international obligations and standards in the way it treats its own people. After China, Iran executes more people than any other country in the world. Recently ten Ahwazi men were sentenced to death for alleged terrorist activities. But we understand that the men did not have adequate access to lawyers and the trial was held behind closed doors. We urge the government to allow these men a fair and public hearing.
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