Manx ship Iran link raised by MP in Commons

BBC: The Justice Secretary Ken Clarke said he will contact the Manx government over allegations the island’s shipping companies have helped Iran evade international sanctions.

BBC News

The Justice Secretary Ken Clarke said he will contact the Manx government over allegations the island’s shipping companies have helped Iran evade international sanctions.

BBC Radio 4’s File on Four programme questioned whether the Iranians had registered ships in the Isle of Man.

Concerns focus on the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line and development of weapons of mass destruction.

Chief Minister Tony Brown said authorities had found “no breach”.

Mr Clarke told the Commons he would raise the findings of the programme’s investigation with the Isle of Man government but he said they had a “very good functioning system of justice”.

‘Legitimate businesses’

“Will make sure we do contact the Isle of Man to ensure that everything is being done that can be done to stop any breach of international sanctions,” he said.

For the past two years various international sanctions have been placed on Iran aimed at halting Iran’s military machine and possible development of weapons of mass destruction.

Concerns were raised last month in the Manx Parliament but the chief minister Tony Brown maintained that an investigation had revealed no wrongdoing and he denied that the island had aided any breach of the sanctions.

“We have to be realistic we can’t do any more, we shouldn’t be expected to do any more,” he said

He added: “Why should we shut down legitimate businesses…. we shouldn’t be expected to take action the rest of the world won’t.”