Common messages regarding EU sanctions against the Iranian nuclear programme

  • Iran has been pursuing a nuclear programme for many years, including an intensive uranium enrichment effort, in violation of several resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and IAEA Board of Governors resolutions.
  • Sanctions are a response to Iran's violations of its international obligations. They target the Iranian nuclear programme and are not aimed at the Iranian people. They include relevant exemptions and specific provisions in order to minimise any unintended effects on the Iranian population.
  • It is for the Iranian leadership to act responsibly and bring these sanctions to an end.

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-The international community has serious and long standing concerns about the nature of Iran's nuclear programme. Iran has been pursuing a nuclear programme for many years, including an intensive uranium enrichment effort, in violation of several resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and IAEA Board of Governors resolutions.

-Iran is failing to cooperate fully with the IAEA and refuses to answer the Agency’s questions about the possible military dimension of its nuclear programme. IAEA reports demonstrate the Iranian record of non-compliance with its international obligations. These are the core concerns of the EU and, more broadly, of the international community.

-The EU remains fully committed to seek a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue in order to build international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme. It respects Iran’s legitimate rights to the peaceful use of nuclear energy in conformity with the NPT (the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons)and fully takes into account UN Security Council and IAEA Board of Governors’ Resolutions.

-The EU does not question the right of Iran as a State Party to the NPT to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the NPT. Iran’s nuclear programme will be treated in the same manner as that of any Non-nuclear Weapon State Party to the NPT once international confidence in its exclusively peaceful nature is restored. This was clearly stated in the E3+3's proposal to Iran in 2008.

-The EU High Representative, together with the six countries of France, Germany, the United Kingdom as well as China, the Russian Federation and the United States (called the E3/EU+3), is negotiating with Iran based on a clear mandate of the UN Security Council and thus the international community. The UN Security Council, reflecting the deep concern of the international community over Iran’s failure to comply with binding international obligations, has adopted six resolutions calling upon Iran to bring its nuclear programme in line with these obligations. To further underline the gravity of its concern, the UN Security Council has also decided upon international sanctions against Iran.

-After a number of negotiations in recent years in which Iran has not been prepared to agree to a negotiated solution, the EU High Representative, acting on behalf of the E3+3, has been engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts to revive a serious dialogue with Iran resulting in three rounds of meetings between the E3+3 and Iran in 2012.

-During these talks, the E3+3 have presented a credible package of confidence-building elements to Iran. The package focuses on the international community's key concerns regarding 20% enrichment, but is also responsive to Iranian ideas on nuclear co-operation, based on the principles of reciprocity and a step-by-step approach. Additional benefits for Iran were also part of the offer.

-This followed repeated attempts to engage Iran in serious negotiations on the nuclear programme. The E3+3 made well-documented offers to Iran already in 2006 and 2008.

-Iran has so far not responded substantially to any of the offers presented to it. On the contrary, Iran has continued to expand its nuclear programme, especially by increasing its enrichment capacities and accumulating more enriched uranium, in breach of applicable international obligations.

-In light of Iran's ongoing violations of its international commitments and the EU's deep concerns regarding the nature of Iran’s nuclear programme and repeated breaches of its obligations, the EU has adopted autonomous sanctions, beyond the ones imposed on Iran by UNSC Resolutions. These restrictive measures have been adopted with one clear goal: to urge the Iranian government to engage constructively, negotiate seriously and address the concerns of the international community in order to restore confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme.

-To achieve this goal, the sanctions are aimed at affecting Iran’s nuclear programme, those persons and entities supporting the programme and revenues of the Iranian government used to fund the programme. They are targeted in a way to achieve the maximum impact on those whose behaviour the EU wants to influence.

-EU restrictive measures are adopted and implemented in accordance with international law and in respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

-The sanctions are not aimed at the Iranian people. In order tominimise any unintended effects on the Iranian population, the EU sanctions regime includes relevant exemptions and specific provisions, for example for transactions regarding foodstuffs, healthcare, medical equipment or for agricultural and humanitarian purposes.

-In particular, the EU sanctions concerning the transfer of funds to and from Iran, including through Iranian banks, include provisions that remove obstacles that would otherwise be applicable to such transactions. In addition, these sectors are exempted from the prohibition on the provision of public financial support for trade with Iran (export credit).

-Furthermore, there are no general prohibitions on trade with and remittances to Iran under the EU’s sanctions regime but targeted sectoral bans. Allowed transactions may therefore proceed with the authorisation of Member States’ authorities under clearly defined and straightforward procedures. And while transfer of money to and from Iran has indeed become more difficult as certain major Iranian banks have been designated for their involvement in the Iranian nuclear programme, there are still a number of channels for financial transfers which remain open and which ensure that such transactions with Iran can continue.

-The EU sanctions include therefore clearly defined safeguards to limit as much as possible unintended effects and to provide the conditions for these transactions to continue with as few obstacles as possible. Where operators are confronted with difficulties to carry out transactions or are in doubt about the interpretation of the relevant regulations, the EU Institutions and the competent authorities of Member States can provide information and advice.

-Sanctions are not accountable for the assessment by private economic operators, in particular banks and financial institutions, of the business risk represented by Iran’s political situation given the uncertainties created by the nuclear crisis.

-The deterioration of the Iranian economy is primarily the consequence of the economic policies and choices of the Iranian leadership and the diversion of enormous resources into the nuclear programme.

-More specifically, any shortage of available medicines or other essential goods inside Iranis mainly due to the inadequate allocation of existing economic resources by the Iranian government. The priority given to some transactions instead of the ones related to basic and urgent needs of the Iranian population is the sole responsibility of the Iranian authorities. Allegations by the Iranian leadership against the EU sanctions in this respect are thus largely unfounded. The EU and its MemberStates are furthermore prepared to provide information and advice to overcome any unforeseen obstacles to allowed transactions, in particular for medicines and all other essential commodities which are not the target of the sanctions regime.

-The Iranian leadership has a clear choice: cooperate and take steps to resolve this issue diplomatically, or face increasing pressure from the international community. Sanctions are not an end in themselves. It is therefore for the Iranian leadership to act responsibly and bring these sanctions to an end by engaging in a serious negotiation process aimed at restoring the confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme and by complying with all its international obligations, including full implementation of UNSC and IAEA board of Governors Resolutions.

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