Dr Julian Lewis: Let us hope that the new President of Iran is not a Holocaust denier who wants to wipe a member state of the United Nations from the face of the map. Does the Foreign Secretary see any role for Iran in trying to bring about a ceasefire in Syria – I stress the word “ceasefire” – to stop the killing, whether or not it leads to a political transition?

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr William Hague): A constructive role for Iran in Syria would be very welcome, and there is the opportunity for that. Iran’s policy on Syria at the moment is the exact opposite, as there is an abundance of evidence of Iranian participation in the murder, torture and abuse committed by the Assad regime, so as things stand today Iran is a long way from playing a helpful diplomatic or restraining role, highly desirable though that would be.]