Paul Murphy (GUE/NGL). - Mr President, hypocrisy abounds on this issue, as on so many others. The EU and US supposedly negotiating to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons, when they are the same powers that support economically, financially and politically the nuclear power of Israel and its policy of terror against, for example, the people of Palestine. They are actually using the talks to try and ensure a Middle East shaped in their own interests.

On the other hand, we have Rouhani. I do not think that the regime does reflect any real change in the repressive dictatorial nature of that regime. Instead it is a recognition by a section of the ruling clerics that in order to avoid revolt from below they had to try and get the sanctions eased.

While they give a liberal face to the outside world, internally it seems that repression has increased. The number of executions has doubled. Iran is the number one executor in the entire world. These include human rights activists, political activists, ethnic minorities. Working people in Iran and in Europe cannot trust either side in these negotiations. The sanctions need to be lifted. We need a struggle from below for a change.