Motion for a resolution - B7-0042/2012Motion for a resolution
B7-0042/2012

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Iran and its nuclear programme (2012/2512(RSP))

25.1.2012

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure

José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, Elmar Brok, Ioannis Kasoulides, Arnaud Danjean, Cristian Dan Preda, Mario Mauro, Michael Gahler, Ria Oomen-Ruijten, Tunne Kelam, Roberta Angelilli, Laima Liucija Andrikienė, Krzysztof Lisek, Gabriele Albertini, Elena Băsescu on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0017/2012

Procedure : 2012/2512(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
B7-0042/2012

B7‑0042/2012

European Parliament resolution on Iran and its nuclear programme (2012/2512(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran,

–   having regard to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Report of 8 November 2011 on the Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions on Iran,

–   having regard to IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano's statement to the Board of Governors on 17 November 2011 that he has 'serious concern regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme' and that evidence indicates that Iran is developing a 'nuclear explosive device',

–   having regard to IAEA Board of Governors resolution of 18 November 2011,

–   having regard to the EU High Representative's statement of 21 September 2011 on behalf of the E3+3,

–   having regard to the EU High Representative's letter of 21 October 2011 to Dr Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator,

–   having regard to the Council conclusions on Iran of 14 November 2011,

–   having regard to the EU High Representative's statement of 18 November 2011 on the IAEA Board of Governors Resolution,

–   having regard to the EU High Representative's statement of 29 November 2011 on the attack on and pillaging of the UK Embassy in Tehran,

–   having regard to the Council conclusions on Iran of 1 December 2011,

–   having regard to the European Council conclusions of 9 December 2011,

–   having regard to the Council conclusions on Iran of 23 January 2012,

–   having regard to the fact that Iran is a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and as such has foresworn the acquisition of nuclear weapons and is legally bound to declare all its nuclear activities, including nuclear material, and place them under IAEA safeguards,

–   having regard to the fact that enrichment suspension and other requirements have been successively affirmed in six UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions (1696, 1737, 1747, 1803, 1835 and 1929) as preconditions for Iran's rights under the NPT to be restored,

–   having regard to UNSC Resolution 1929 (2010) introducing new restrictive measures against Iran imposing a fourth round of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme,

–   having regard to the additional sanctions on Iran announced by the United Kingdom, United States, South Korea and Canada after the IAEA report,

–   having regard to Iranian Parliament's vote of 27 November 2011 to downgrade its diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom,

–   having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Iran's nuclear programme has a history of concealment, which over time has eroded the credibility of Iran's claims that the programme is only for peaceful purposes;

B.  whereas Iran has still to comply with its obligations under all relevant UNSC resolutions, the most recent of which is Resolution 1929 (2010), and all the requirements of the IAEA Board of Governors, which specify full and unconditional access by the Agency to all sites, equipment, people and documents that would allow for proper inspection of Iran's nuclear purposes and would enable the IAEA to fulfil its role as nuclear watchdog;

C. whereas Iran is still in violation of Article II and III of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT);

D. whereas some of the policies of the Iranian Government pose a threat to stability and peace in the region;

E.  whereas the IAEA has confirmed that Iran received in 2007 from individuals in Pakistan instructions as to how to further enrichment uranium into metals used for warheads and the IAEA report annex states that Iran has been given the design information for a nuclear explosive device;

F.  whereas on 27 December 2011 Iranian Vice President Reza Rahimi threatened to use military force to close the Strait of Hormuz if sanctions were imposed on Iran's oil exports; whereas there has been a further deployment of European and US navy forces to counteract this threat and the military status has risen to ‘high alert’ throughout the region;

G. whereas Iran refused to attend the IAEA meeting of 21 November 2011 in protest of the IAEA report;

H. whereas the IAEA report of 8 November 2011 cites that Iran continues: activities at its nuclear facilities which are contrary to the IAEA Board of Governors resolutions; enrichment related activities – contrary to the IAEA resolutions – including the building of a greatly increased number of centrifuge cascades at different locations and rising the enrichment rate to 20%, undeclared work on heavy water related projects – contrary to the UN Security Council and IAEA resolutions – work on uranium conversion and fuel production (contravening IAEA resolutions), to fail to apply the IAEA's Additional Protocol allowing the agency to assurance the absent of undeclared nuclear material and to fail to reply to IAEA's request for new information on enrichment activities and other nuclear developments;

I.   whereas the IAEA report and its annex conclude that there is credible information that Iran is still seeking to develop a nuclear explosive device and to weaponise its nuclear programme, including the development of nuclear warheads for its missiles; whereas Iran has begun enriching uranium to a level of up to 20% in the deeply buried underground facility in Fordow near Qom;

J.   whereas on 5 January 2012 the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has conveyed an invitation from the EU High Representative to Iran to resume nuclear talks with the P5+1; whereas during the visit of the Turkish Foreign Minister the Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has stated that Iran is ready to resume talks;

K. whereas on 9 January 2012 Mr Amir Hekmati, an American citizen, who has been accused of spying for the CIA was sentenced to death in Iran for ‘collaboration with a hostile government’; whereas Mr Hekmati did not receive a fair trial and was held in custody without access to his family, a lawyer and consular assistance;

1.  Reiterates that the proliferation risks in connection with the Iranian nuclear programme remain a source of serious concern to the EU and is deeply worried by the IAEA Report's statement that credible information ‘indicates that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device’; is concerned about the development of nuclear military technology in Iran, including nuclear warheads for its missiles; condemns the Iranian Government's decision to start operations of enrichment of uranium at its facility in Fordow;

2.  Welcomes the Council's decision of 23 January 2012 to broaden existing sanctions on Iran, including a ban on imports of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products and freezing the assets of the Iranian central bank within the EU; notes that there will be a phased embargo of Iranian crude oil exports to the EU and already concluded contracts can still be executed until 1 July 2012; calls on the Council to decide on measures needed to compensate for the consequences of the embargo for the different EU Member States; calls on the EU to talk to countries such as China, South Korea, India and Japan, not to contradict the sanctions;

3.  Supports the Council's commitment to work for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue in accordance with the dual-track approach and the objective of the EU to achieve a comprehensive and long-term settlement; calls on the Iranian authorities to reply positively to the offer for substantial negotiations as set out in the EU High Representative's letter of 21 October 2011, by clearly demonstrating its readiness to engage in confidence building measures and, without preconditions, in meaningful talks to seriously address existing concerns on the nuclear issue; calls on the Vice President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to stress to the Iranians that there can be no further delays in the resumption of these talks and that any buy of time without concessions will only weak efforts towards a diplomatic solution;

4.  Welcomes the decisions taken by the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Canada to impose new targeted sanctions on Iran in the light of the IAEA report; strongly condemns the attack by demonstrators on the UK Embassy in Tehran on 29 November 2011; calls on the Iranian government to fulfil its international obligations, including the Vienna Convention, to protect diplomats and Embassies;

5.  Calls on the Commission, Council and EU Member States to assess trade relations with Iran beyond sanctions and to introduce further controls and licenses to prevent the export of dual use technologies which could be used for its nuclear programme and non-democratic measures;

6.  Renews its call on the Iranian authorities to fulfil Iran's obligations under the NPT; calls strongly on Tehran to ratify and implement the Additional Protocol to the Safeguards Agreement; condemns Iran's continuing refusal to fully cooperate with the IAEA, obstructing the IAEA's work, denying full and unconditional access to key facilities and objecting to the appointment of inspectors;

7.  Recognises that the dialogue and cooperation with Turkey can be an important factor for achieving a settlement; calls on the Turkish authorities to follow the European approach towards the Iranian nuclear programme;

8.  Strongly condemns the Iranian threat of a military closure of the Strait of Hormuz; urges the Iranian authorities not to block the Strait of Hormuz; believes that such an act could lead to a regional conflict and trigger retaliation from the United States and other countries; calls for an urgent meeting of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) and the Political and Security Committee (PSC) to prepare a response of the EU to the Iranian threat;

9.  Is concerned by Russia's refusal so far to allow Iran's referral to the UN Security Council for further UN sanctions and hopes that the Russian position will be reconsidered in the light of the IAEA report; calls on Russia to cease aid to Iran's nuclear development until Iran has fully complied with its obligations under relevant UN resolutions;

10. Strongly condemns the death sentence verdict given to Mr Amir Hektami; calls on the Iranian authorities to rescind his death sentence and provide a fair trial to Mr Hekmati with access to his family, his lawyer and the Swiss protecting power;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the EU Member States, the government and parliament of Turkey, the government and parliament of the Russian Federation, the Director General of the IAEA, the Secretary-General of the UN and the government and parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran.