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.
º
º
º
-
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 to minimise 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 Iran
is 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 Member States 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.
____________________