What his most recent assessment is of the state of relations between the UK and Iran.

What his most recent assessment is of the state of relations between the UK and Iran.

I am glad that Mr. Wallace is learning the art of asking questions. We will give him a lot of practice for many years to come, I think.

Iran continues to refuse to engage in a constructive manner with the international community. We have been ceaseless in seeking better relations with Iran, and the E3 plus 3 group has made a serious offer for widespread co-operation on the basis of international rules. Despite this, Iran refuses to heed five UN Security Council resolutions, continues to deny its own citizens' human rights, and supports armed groups in the region.

Unlike the Foreign Secretary, I do not take six hours to answer the important questions.

On Saturday, the Chinese effectively kicked into the long grass the effort by the E3 plus 3 to impose a new round of sanctions when they sent a junior delegate to the meeting in the UN. Given that China has faced two ways on arms sales, oil imports and now on sanctions on Iran, is it not about time that the countries that want to try and resolve the issues to do with Iran seek more imaginative options? Will the Secretary of State let the House know what other options he may consider?

I counsel the hon. Gentleman very strongly not to fall for the propaganda that says that the E3 plus 3 has failed to come to a united position; the truth is the opposite. All six countries agreed that now was the time to assess which sanction options were the right ones to implement. It may comfort President Ahmadinejad to dwell on who attended for the Chinese at the meeting on Saturday, but the Chinese commitment and representation was absolutely clear. At no stage was there any suggestion from them that they want either to opt out of the E3 plus 3 unity or to deny the progress that needs to be made. Iran is isolated on this issue, not China or the United Kingdom, and we should stick to that position.

Last month the Iranians successfully test fired a new long-range missile capable of hitting targets in Israel and United States bases in the middle east. That, combined with their nuclear programme, is a very frightening nexus, indeed. Are we not sleepwalking towards a major war in the middle east? What steps can the Government take to avoid that?

It is important that we are clear about the dangers posed by the Iranian's nuclear programme and their other activities in the region. Equally, we must not talk ourselves into-the hon. Gentleman used the word "war", which is a very dangerous word to use, especially in the middle east. It is quite the wrong time to believe that diplomacy cannot resolve the issue. It is clearly in the interests of the Iranian people to seek proper relations on the basis of international rules with the international community, and that is why we are absolutely committed to the diplomatic track and believe that it can work. The truth is that the Iranian people do not have an argument with the rest of us, and we must make sure that we do not start one.

Will my right hon. Friend say whether the E3 plus 3 group has discussed the Russian proposal to enrich uranium? Does he think that there is any mileage in it, and is it something that the Iranians may well bend to as negotiations continue?

We certainly have. It is a very important proposal, which former director el-Baradei of the International Atomic Energy Agency tabled, but the Iranians have not given a positive response. Their reply, which is not in writing and, even at that, has not been formally tabled, does not accept the simple point that the IAEA-Russian proposal makes, which is, "The Iranians say that they have only civilian use for the low-enriched uranium; here is a way in which it can be enriched for medical purposes and returned to Iran for those purposes." Nothing would more clearly demonstrate to the wider world that Iran is serious, but it has not taken that opportunity.

I hope that my right hon. Friend does not flinch from those criticisms of Britain's involvement in Iran. I would be very proud if the United Kingdom was on the side of the great Persian nation, its culture and the green revolution of young people as they march to overthrow those ayatollahs and their tyrants. Is this not a case whereby so-called soft power has to work? Will he talk to other Departments and other Governments to see what we can do to encourage the people of Iran, like the people of Poland in 1980 and the people of South Africa, to overthrow that tyranny and install democracy?

I think that I am right in saying that on 70 occasions over the past few years the Government have raised human rights issues. Given that the Iranian Government say that they want to give us a slap in the mouth for the vehemence with which we have expressed our opinions, no one can say that the Government have been soft or recalcitrant in putting forward those views.