divdiv class=story-body readability=40 span class=story-date#13; span class=date25 November 2013/span#13; span class=time-textLast updated at /spanspan class=time12:44 ET/span#13; #13; /span#13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; p class=introduction id=story_continues_1William Hague says the UK and its allies will leave no stone unturned to reach a lasting deal on curbing Iran's nuclear programme./p#13; pThe interim deal was a significant step towards enhancing the security of the Middle East and preventing nuclear proliferation worldwide, he told MPs./p#13; pIran agreed on Sunday to curb some of its nuclear activities in return for £4.3bn ($7bn) in sanctions relief./p#13; pThe US has welcomed the move but Israel has called it a historic mistake. /p#13; pFollowing days of talks in Geneva, Iran agreed to give better access to inspectors and halt some of its work on uranium enrichment for a six-month period - expected to begin at the end of January. /p#13; span class=cross-head'Good faith'/span#13; pMr Hague told the UK parliament that the agreement would result in Iran's nuclear programme being frozen and, in certain areas, rolled back so that it could not make progress on the areas of greatest concern - such as enrichment of high-grade uranium. /p#13; !-- Embedding the video player --#13; !-- This is the embedded player component --#13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; #13; !-- wwrights check --#13; !-- Empty country is used on test environment --#13; #13; #13; #13; div class=videoInStoryC readability=1#13; div id=emp-25095010-97875 class=emp#13; #13; #13; noscript#13; div class=warning readability=1#13; img class=holding src=http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/71336000/jpg/_71336373_71336372.jpg alt=William Hague/pstrongPlease turn on JavaScript./strong Media requires JavaScript to play./p#13; /div#13; /noscript#13; #13; !-- embedding script --#13; #13; /div#13; !-- companion banner -- #13; #13; #13; #13; !-- END - companion banner --!-- caption --p class=captionMr Hague told the Commons that it would have been a grave error not to sign the agreement/p#13; !-- END - caption --#13; #13; #13; #13; /div#13; !-- end of the embedded player component --#13; #13; !-- Player embedded -- pHe described Sunday's agreement as important, necessary and completely justified - adding that it would have been a grave error for the international community to shun progress on such an important issue./p#13; pWhile future negotiations would continue to be difficult and protracted, he said the progress that had been made should give heart to hopes of a lasting deal over the coming months./p#13; pWe are right to test to the full Iran's readiness to act in good faith, to work with the rest of the international community and to enter into international agreements, he said./p#13; pIf they do not abide by their commitments they will bear a heavy responsibility./p#13; pHe warned anyone seeking to undermine the agreement - both inside and outside Iran - that this would not be tolerated. /p#13; pThe international community's approach to lifting sanctions would be proportionate and limited, he said, with restrictions eased on sales of petrochemical, gold and precious metals./p#13; span class=cross-head'Blackmail'/span#13; pExisting sanctions on oil and gas, travel restrictions on members of the Iranian regime and asset freezes, would remain in place and be robustly enforced until a comprehensive agreement was reached./p#13; pTehran has claimed the deal recognises Iran's rights to enrich low-grade uranium but the international community disputes this./p#13; div class=story-feature narrow#13; a class=hidden href=#story_continues_2Continue reading the main story/a h2 class=quote“spanStart Quote/span/h2#13; blockquote readability=1p class=first-childWe have duty of care to these allies (Israel and Saudi Arabia) and we have a long way to go in persuading them that this agreement is in their best interests”/p/blockquote#13; span class=endquoteEnd Quote/span#13; span class=quote-creditRichard Ottaway/span#13; span class=quote-credit-titleConservative MP/span#13; #13; /div p id=story_continues_2For Labour, Douglas Alexander praised the role played by EU foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton in negotiations and said the interim deal would give the time and flexibility to reach a lasting agreement. /p#13; pThis is not a perfect deal, nor is it guaranteed to lead to a comprehensive resolution. But, based on your statement to the House today, it appears to address a number of central concerns./p#13; pBut Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh said the agreement would permit Tehran to continue enriching uranium of up to 5% while effectively pocketing $7bn./p#13; pHe suggested there was nothing to stop what he described as a terrorist regime from blackmailing the international community at the end of the six-month period./p#13; pFellow Conservative and chairman of the foreign affairs committee Richard Ottaway urged Mr Hague to reassure Israel and Saudi Arabia that their security would not be threatened by a rapprochement with Iran. /p#13; pThere are elements in both countries which believe they have an existential fight on their hands, which will only get tougher with a more confident Iran, he said. /p#13; pWill you agree that we have duty of care to these allies and we have a long way to go in persuading them that this agreement is in their best interests?/p#13; /div/divbrbrcentera href=http://www.wizardrss.comPowered By WizardRSS.com/a | a href=http://www.wizardrss.comFull Text RSS Feed/a | a href=http://www.amazon.com/RFID-Blocking-Cards-Identity-Protector/dp/B00CJHZLEWRFID/a | a href=http://www.wpzonbuilder.comAmazon Affiliate/a/center

