Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding EU talks with Iran in relation to nuclear capability in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18604/05]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in relation to the talks that are ongoing between the European Union and Iran; the basis of the European Union's approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18490/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 50 together.

Negotiations on the Iranian nuclear programme between Iran, France, Germany and the UK, supported by the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, resulted in an agreement signed in Paris in November 2004 on nuclear issues and future co-operation. Under this agreement, which was endorsed by the European Council last December, Iran, inter alia, reaffirmed that it does not and will not seek to acquire nuclear weapons and committed itself to full transparency and cooperation with the IAEA. Iran, moreover, decided to voluntarily suspend all enrichment and reprocessing activities and to invite the IAEA to verify and to monitor the suspension. The agreement further provided for negotiations on a long-term agreement, which will cover political and security issues; technology and cooperation; and nuclear issues. At the same time and in parallel the EU has engaged in formal negotiations with Iran towards a political dialogue agreement, PDA, and a trade and cooperation agreement, TCA. The suspension by Iran of those elements of concern in its nuclear programme is a necessary condition for these talks to take place.

At the meeting of the IAEA board of governors last March, France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement in which they gave their preliminary assessment of the negotiations with Iran. They indicated that the negotiations have allowed for an extensive exchange of views, notably on ways to provide objective guarantees that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes, as stipulated in the Paris agreement. The two sides have discussed long-term arrangements for cooperation between the EU and Iran in the political and security area, as well as in the economic and technological field. They have also explored the prospects for possible international cooperation in connection with Iran's nuclear programme. In reiterating their commitment to the negotiation process, France, Germany and the United Kingdom stressed that it is essential that confidence be maintained through the continued implementation in good faith of all aspects of the Paris agreement.

In recent weeks, such confidence was undermined when Iran issued statements that suggested that it would recommence some activities covered by voluntary suspension. France, Germany and the United Kingdom, in response, wrote to Iran and called for a ministerial level meeting, which took place on 25 May in Geneva. At a subsequent press conference, the UK's Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, commented that the two sides had a thorough discussion within the framework of the Paris agreement. He indicated that the European side would make detailed proposals to Iran by the end of July or the beginning of August, in the context of the Paris agreement remaining in force. During the meeting the European side again recognised Iran's rights under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, NPT, exercised in conformity with its obligations under the treaty, while Iran reaffirmed its commitment not to seek nuclear weapons.

I met the Iranian Foreign Minister, Dr. Kamal Kharrazi, on 2 May, at the NPT review conference in New York. The main subject discussed in this brief meeting was the Iranian nuclear programme. Dr. Kharrazi stressed the importance of nuclear power in providing for the future energy needs of his country and Iran's right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. I recalled Ireland's national position on nuclear power and reaffirmed the need for the Iranian nuclear issue to be addressed within the framework of the negotiations led by France, Germany and the United Kingdom, in strict conformity with the Paris agreement. I underlined the belief that difficulties should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation and that when a solution was found on the nuclear issue this would open the way to making progress on other issues, which could only be beneficial for both sides.