UK has ‘very large concerns’ about Iran acquiring nukes, says Liz Truss
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss says UK 'engaging directly' with Tehran to prevent it becoming nuclear state - amid growing confidence of return to nuclear deal opposed by Israel
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
The UK government has “very large concerns” about the possibility of Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon – but is “engaging directly” with Tehran to attempt to prevent this happening, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has confirmed.
Speaking to MPs after securing the welcome release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Anoosheh Ashoori and Morad Tahbaz on Wednesday, Truss said payment of a £400million debt to Tehran and “resolving the issue of these particular unfairly detained people” meant “we have dealt with two of the major issues facing the UK and Iran.”
But Truss added:”Of course we have very large concerns about the possibility of Iran’s acquiring a nuclear weapon, and we are currently working with partners to prevent that from happening, because we know where it can lead when a nuclear state poses a danger to the world.
“That is our focus: working with partners, and, of course, engaging directly with the Iranian Government, as I have done.”
The pair were released at the same time as talks in Vienna close in on renewing the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on regulating Iran’s nuclear programme.
The deal gives Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.
On Wednesday Iran said that “two issues” remain with the US to restore the deal.
But Jewish News understands there is growing confidence the talks are progressing to a successful conclusion.
Israel has consistently lobbied against a return to the nuclear deal, which former US President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018.
Boris Johnson had backed Trump’s stance on the deal up until the past year – but he has spoken more favourably about resurrecting the JCPOA in recent months.
Asked again about her hopes for Iran to play a more positive role in the world, Truss told MPs on Wednesday:” The future of Iran is a choice for the Iranian Government.
“We do not want to see Iran acquire a nuclear weapon; we want to see a world in which Iran plays a more positive role. Of course, we will work to encourage a more positive trajectory.”
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