Brussels, 24/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - Confronted by Iranian intransigence, the European Union has closed ranks. In addition to the EU's unprecedented decision to impose a phased embargo on Iranian oil exports and to take action against its central bank, with a freeze on its assets in Europe in order to dry up the funding flow for its nuclear programme, the leaders of the EU3 (Germany, France and the United Kingdom), which is negotiating with Tehran on this issue, called once again, on Monday 23 January, for the cessation of the nuclear programme.
“Today, the EU agreed an unprecedented package of sanctions on Iran, including a full ban on Iranian oil exports. We call on Iran's leadership immediately to suspend its sensitive nuclear activities and abide fully by its international obligations”, say German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and UK Prime Minister David Cameron in a statement published in the late afternoon of Monday. They state clearly, however, that “the door is open to Iran to engage in serious and meaningful negotiations about its nuclear programme”. “Our message is clear. We have no quarrel with the Iranian people. But the Iranian leadership has failed to restore international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme”, they go on. “We will not accept Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon. Iran has so far had no regard for its international obligations and is already exporting and threatening violence around its region. Until Iran comes to the table, we will be united behind strong measures to undermine the regime's ability to fund its nuclear programme, and to demonstrate the cost of a path that threatens the peace and security of us all”, conclude the three leaders.
EU foreign ministers had previously agreed to put in place a phased embargo on Iranian oil and oil products. The measures, which target the import, purchase and transport of crude oil and oil products and related banking and insurance sector activities, put an immediate ban on the signing of any new contracts and makes provision for a transition phase until 1st July 2012 for the cancellation of existing contracts. Similarly banned are imports of Iranian petrochemical products and exports to Iran of equipment and technology required in this sector, along with investment in Iranian petrochemical companies. Iran exports almost 20% of its oil to the EU, mainly to Greece, Italy and Spain. Other oil-producing countries, especially Saudi Arabia, should be able to fill the gap left by the ban, according to the press.
The Council also agreed to impose sanctions on the Iranian central bank by freezing its assets in the EU while ensuring that legitimate trade can continue “under strict conditions”. The trade in gold, precious metals and diamonds with Iranian public authorities and the central bank has been banned, as has the delivery to the central bank of Iranian-denominated banknotes and coins. Three further persons have been hit by visa bans and had their assets frozen and eight other entities, including in the financial and transport sectors, have had their assets frozen. All these measures were published in the Official Journal of 24 January 2012.
Europe is determined to bring Iran into line, and on Tuesday it was joined by Australia, whose Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, visiting London, said that it would not be content simply to support these measures but would take similar action. The message has to be got through to the Iranian people, political leaders and the government that their conduct is unacceptable, Rudd said after meeting his UK counterpart William Hague. (EH/transl.rt)