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Council Conclusions on
Iran
2776th EXTERNAL RELATIONS Council meeting
Brussels, 22 January 2007
The Council adopted the following
conclusions:
"The Council discussed Iran’s nuclear
programme. The Council deplored Iran’s failure to take
the steps repeatedly required by the IAEA Board of
Governors and the United Nations Security Council. It
welcomed the unanimous adoption of Security Council
Resolution 1737 on 23 December 2006. This decision
represents a necessary and proportionate response to
Iran’s disregard for the concerns of the international
community and for Security Council Resolution 1696.
The Council welcomed the measures in Resolution 1737,
which are targeted against the most sensitive parts of
the Iranian nuclear and missile programmes, and called
on all countries to implement the measures in full and
without delay.
To ensure effective implementation of measures in UNSCR
1737 while remaining consistent with EU policy, and
recalling the EU policy not to sell arms to Iran,
Ministers agreed that the EU should prevent the export
to and import from Iran of the goods on the NSG and MTCR
lists; ban transactions with and freeze the assets of
individuals and entities covered by the criteria in
UNSCR 1737; ban travel to the EU of the individuals
covered by these criteria; and take measures to prevent
Iranian nationals from studying proliferation sensitive
subjects within the EU.
The Council welcomed the Security Council’s decisions to
request a report by the IAEA Director General within 60
days, and to review Iran’s action in the light of that
report; and that it shall suspend the implementation of
measures if and for as long as Iran suspends all
enrichment-related and reprocessing activities,
including research and development as verified by the
IAEA, to allow for negotiations; and, in the absence of
Iranian compliance, to adopt further measures under
Article 41 of Chapter VII of the UN Charter, in order to
persuade Iran to fully comply with the Security
Council’s Resolutions and the requirements of the IAEA
Board of Governors. The Council, in this context,
underlined its continued commitment to an incremental
and proportionate approach.
The Council reiterated at the same time its continuing
support for efforts to find a negotiated long-term
solution. It reaffirmed its support for the far-reaching
proposals presented to Iran by the EU High
Representative on 6 June 2006 which would open the way
for a new relationship with Iran based on mutual respect
and expanded cooperation, and called upon Iran to seize
the opportunity of reaching a negotiated solution." |
