Dear Purpleslug

CC: The Prime Minister

We are writing because we are gravely concerned at the absence of any British Government officials in the middle of the ongoing Iran crisis. Today, it has been announced and verified that Iran is now enriching uranium above the permitted 3.67% level. This is another breach of the JCPOA coming on from the breach noted in our previous letter to you.

France, Germany and the US have all withdrawn from the JCPOA. We strongly believe it is out duty to attempt to bring about a diplomatic solution to this crisis, and we urge the US Government and the other P5+1 countries to come around the table to discuss the JCPOA, but in the absence of that, the Government now has a duty to use the so-called “snapback” procedure in the JCPOA to immediately put sanctions on Iran for their repeated breaches of the agreement and their lack of willingness to talk to the P5+1. It is important that diplomacy is not abandoned, and so if we were in Government we would seek to call a meeting of the P5+1 to discuss this issue, and it is disappointing the Government has seemingly failed to do this.

The Prime Minister told the House of Commons we should write to the Foreing Secretary to request a statement. We did that received no response. Our attempts at an Urgent Question have been rejected, although not through formal channels, by the Speaker. The absence of the Government is deafening and unacceptable, and calls into question their ability to protect our national security when on an issue like this they are nowhere to be seen.

Whilst we accept you are a busy man, surely between the Prime Minister, Defence Secretary, yourself, your minister of state and the minister of state in the Defence department one of you could have come to the House to explain the Government’s strategy, or lack thereof, on the matter of Iran. This is not some trivial matter, it is about a country gaining the ability to make nuclear weapons and by failing to take any sort of leading role in this matter, you are signalling to the world that we are retreating from the world stage. It is not good enough.

Whilst we know questions to the Foreign Secretary is upcoming, we demand that you or a member of your Government make a statement so that there can be a dedicated question session on Iran. The limits on ministers questions mean there will not be a big enough chance for full questioning on the matter.

We both have great respect for you, but on this issue the Government is letting the county down.

We expect a speedy response to this letter.

Signed,

The Rt. Hon. Tommy1Boys MBE PC MP MSP

Classical Liberal Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs

The Hon. El_Raymondo MP

Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs