Editing William Hague (section)

====Iran====
In February 2012, Hague warned in a BBC interview about [[Iran]]'s "increasing willingness to contemplate" terrorism around the world. He cited the [[2011 Iran assassination plot]], an attempt to assassinate [[Adel al-Jubeir]], the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, as well as alleged involvement in recent attacks in New Delhi, Georgia, and [[Bangkok]]. He said it showed "the danger Iran is currently presenting to the peace of the world".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/uk-politics-17089081|work=BBC News|title=Hague warns on Iran 'terrorism'|date=19 February 2012|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=5 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205091454/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/uk-politics-17089081|url-status=live}}</ref>

Hague spoke the Commons on 20 February about the [[nuclear program of Iran]] and said that if the Tehran regime managed to construct a viable weapon, its neighbours would be forced to build their own nuclear warheads too. He accused Iranian President [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] of pursuing "confrontational policies" and described the country's enrichment of uranium in defiance of [[United Nations Security Council]] resolutions as "a crisis coming steadily down the track". "Our policy is that whilst we remain unswervingly committed to diplomacy, it is important to emphasise to Iran that all options are on the table," Hague told MPs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9698000/9698142.stm |work=BBC News |title=Iran debate part one |date=20 February 2012 |access-date=3 March 2012 |archive-date=3 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303135908/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9698000/9698142.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March he condemned the way [[2012 Iranian legislative election|parliamentary elections]] were staged, claiming they were not "free and fair". He said the poll had been held against a backdrop of fear that meant the result would not reflect the will of the people. Hague said: "It has been clear for some time that these elections would not be free and fair. "The regime has presented the vote as a test of loyalty, rather than an opportunity for people freely to choose their own representatives. The climate of fear, created by the regime's crushing of opposition voices since 2009, persists."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/world-news/hague-condemns-elections-in-iran-3038319.html |work=Irish Independent |title=Hague condemns elections in Iran |date=2 March 2012 |access-date=3 March 2012 |archive-date=3 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303120307/http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/world-news/hague-condemns-elections-in-iran-3038319.html |url-status=live }}</ref>