Sanctions on Iran

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Updated: 8th February 2012

Question No. 35

Parliamentary Question – Dept Details

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the evidence that the decision to impose sanctions on Iran was based; if he has sought any independent verification of the evidence presented to the EU to warrant the imposition of the sanctions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Thomas Pringle.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 8th February, 2012.

Ref No: 7119/12

The EU, US and Canada have enacted further restrictive measures against Iran in the light of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s report on 8 November 2011 on the Iran nuclear issue.

In its report, the IAEA expressed serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear programme and concluded that information available indicated that Iran had carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device. These represent findings of the utmost gravity.

The Government is satisfied, as are Ireland’s EU partners, that the IAEA’s report is credible and its conclusions must be taken very seriously. The report is based on information drawn from a wide variety of sources and deemed by the IAEA to be “consistent in terms of technical content, individuals and organizations involved, and time frames”. The IAEA is, of course, the internationally recognised watchdog on this issue, with unrivalled technical expertise and a record of absolute impartiality and independence.

Following the publication of the report, the IAEA’s Board of Governors adopted by an impressive margin on 18 November a resolution endorsing the report’s findings. This resolution, which was also cosponsored by all the EU member states on the Board, was a further vote of confidence in the content of the report.

It is crucially important that Iran return to the negotiating table to resolve these concerns and to comply with its international obligations. However, regrettably, Iran has made no move to date to do so. Therefore, on 1 December, the EU Foreign Affairs Council agreed the extension of restrictive measures to a further 180 entities and individuals, including those directly involved in Iran’s nuclear activities in violation of UN Security Council resolutions; those owning, controlling or acting on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL); and members of, as well as entities controlled by, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

On 23 January, with still no response by Iran to calls for the resumption of dialogue, the Foreign Affairs Council agreed additional sanctions against Iran, in accordance with the Council conclusions of 1 December. These include measures in the energy sector, including a phased embargo of Iranian crude oil imports to the EU; in the financial sector, including against the Central Bank of Iran; and in the transport sector. Further export restrictions, notably on gold and on sensitive dual-use goods and technology, as well as additional designations of persons and entities, including several controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), were also agreed.

I remind the Iranian authorities that these sanctions can be swiftly reversed if Iran takes concrete steps to address the very serious concerns of the international community and provide assurances as to the peaceful intentions of its nuclear programme. It is my earnest hope that these additional measures will bring Iran back to the negotiating table soon to address comprehensively the military dimension of its nuclear programme.

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