TNAG-0930-FCO40-1148-Sanctions-against-Iran-extension-to-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 340

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[Mr. Hurd.]

Iran

23 APRIL 1980

Iran

468

suggestion for a further approach to the

We shall, of course, keep the House fully Soviet Union on this matter. Informed.

The political situation in Tehran and throughout Iran remains confused and fluid, and it is, therefore, right to make a further effort during the next three weeks

a little more than three weeks—to try to show those Iranians who are genuinely concerned with Iran's position in the world that that position will be under- mined and put at risk so long as the hos- tages are held.

I confirm that there was complete agreement among the Foreign Ministers of the Nine on the measures that were announced. That is a satisfactory state of affairs.

The right hon. Gentleman will have noted that the subject of oil was not mentioned in the communiqué that was issued yesterday. No request has been received from the United States that we should forgo imports of oil. We received a request that companies should not buy from Iran at prices sharply different from the reigning OPEC prices. As it hap- pens, the new price that was announced recently for Iranian oil is very high, and therefore British companies have not bought Iranian oil, and are not now iift- ing Iranian oil at the increased prices. I understand that the same is true of Jap- anese companies.

The right hon. Gentleman is correct in pointing out that this is not simply a mat- ter of the United States and the Nine, and that other countries are closely in- volved. The Japanese Foreign Minister was in Luxembourg yesterday, and my right hon. and noble Friend had a long talk with him. We understand that the Japanese are associating themselves with the measures announced-which is impor- tant. Other countries are also involved, some of which are members of OECD. Britain and her partners are in touch with them so as to bring about the maximum solidarity.

The right hon. Gentleman is correct in recalling that, initially the Soviet Union went along with the demand that the hostages should be released. Later it fell into the temptation of fishing in troubled waters, and it vetoed the second resolu- tion in the Security Council. Neverthe- less, we note, and we shall think care- fully about, the right hon. Gentleman's

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Mr. J. Enoch Powell: Have the Gov- ernment overlooked the notorious and proven ineffectiveness and counter- productiveness of economic sanctions? Are not the Government aware of the widespread and rising dislike in this country at seeing Britain dragged at the chariot wheels of the United States, which would not act in this way if the roles were reversed?

Mr. Hurd: No one can be happy about treading the path to sanctions, or be in any way dogmatic about the result. That is one reason why the European Ministers have given the Iranians more than three further weeks before sanctions come into effect. We very much hope that decisive progress towards the release of the hostages will be made within that time so that sanctions do not have to be implemented.

The right hon. Gentleman must take into account that yesterday the European Ministers were not considering a blank sheet of paper. They were considering a request from the President of the United States of America for help in a desperate situation in which, by universal consent, he has shown immense patience and res- traint for five months.

Mr. Whitney: Will my hon. Friend accept that his statement today is wel- come as a demonstration that, faced with difficult circumstances, the Foreign Minis- ters of the Community can provide posi- tive and joint action, which will be most welcome? Will he also accept that in the present delicate international situa- tion a demonstration of solidarity with the United States is of paramount importance?

Mr. Hurd: It is satisfactory that throughout the Iranian crisis the Govern- ments of the Nine and the embassies of the Nine in Tehran have worked together more solidly than on any other issue that I can remember. This solidarity survived a difficult test at Luxembourg yesterday. I agree with my hon. Friend's second point. If the Foreign Ministers had returned a plain "No" yesterday to the request by the United States, the conse- quences for the Western Alliance would without doubt have been very serious.