Appointed in 2006, Ambassador Dominick Chilcott has led a distinguished career within the British Foreign Service. He was stationed in Iran until 2011 when diplomatic relations between the UK and Iran were suspended. He is currently serving in Dublin as Ambassador to Ireland.

Personable and calm, Chilcott builds a convincing case for why we would fear Iran’s nuclear programme. He is the kind of man who gives the impression that when he worries, we should too. Whilst no one would claim that Iran is building a weapon at present, he is adamant that it is enriching uranium “up to levels and in amounts that have no plausible civilian purpose.”

For Chilcott, even the question of exported terror, which seems such a fresh horror in the days after the attack on Boston, pales in the shadow of the nuclear threat.  Citing the bombing of the Boston marathon as an example, he outlined the aim of the modern terrorist as “a very large political effect for actually a rather small incident”. Contrasting this with the nuclear threat, he says “if we miscalculate on the nuclear file and if Iran was to get a nuclear weapon, then I think the consequences… could be very severe indeed”. He names the precipitation of a nuclear arms race in the Gulf and greater Iranian interference in the region as possible consequences. Chilcott’s message is clear; Iran’s nuclear aspirations are big, visible and dangerous.

Exactly how far Iran is involved in the upholding of the Syrian regime remains uncertain. However, Chilcott alludes to their considerable involvement, saying they are “doing a lot behind the scenes” to keep Assad in place. He seems more certain about Iranian involvement in the early days of the Civil War, saying “there was quite a lot of advice and support for the Assad regime from the Iranians on how to suppress popular rising against the regime based on what the Iranians had learnt had worked or not worked quite so well within Iran itself.”

This comment brings most readily to mind the violence of the Presidential elections in 2009, an event rife with allegations of fraud and protesting. With fresh elections planned for June of this year, the world waits to see if we can expect more of the same. Chilcott seems unsure, saying that this election seems appears to be lined up to be “more controlled and less interesting”, but admitting that “very few people foresaw that the Green movement would arise and get behind Mousavi”.  However, the situation at this time feels very difficult, Chilcott himself suspects that many of the leaders of the Green Movement have been arrested, tortured, killed or have left Iran. It would require them to be “extremely brave” to start up anything. The question remaining is will they do it?

When questioned on the legacy of Iraq on British foreign policy, he concedes that it has damaged their reputation in certain circles. However, he was clear that “it’s not the only thing that defines us”. Speaking of the international reputation of the UK foreign service, he said that the international community “are willing to be led by the UK” on such issues as Palestine, Iran and Libya.  Careful as he was to make clear that “the indispensable leadership in the world is the United States”, he was also adamant that British foreign policy was not “a subset of American foreign policy”. Instead he suggests that it is shared views and approaches that make the UK and US so compatible.

Whilst those on the ground may have a different view, the reputation that the British foreign service enjoys in the capitals of the world is good, a fact of which Chilcott is clearly proud:

“ I think that there’s a lot of respect for us. If you look at what our policies are, on the whole we are admired, if that’s not too strong a word, for our pragmatism… our good sense… our knowledge of places and our engagement with them over many, many years”.

Chilcott speaks warmly of his new home in Dublin and of improving relations between the UK and Ireland. Whilst the Queen’s visit in 2011 was a roaring success, there has never been an official state visit from an Irish President to the UK. However, things look rather positive in that arena, with Chilcott smiling and saying “it’s been agreed rather delphically, that it will take place at the appropriate time.” How very diplomatic.

Ambassador Chilcott addressed The Cambridge Union Society on 25th April speaking in opposition of the motion “This House Believes that it is Western Hypocrisy to Condemn Iran’s Nuclear Aspirations”.