Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 520: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the sanctions which are being imposed upon Iran, outside of those sanctions which are under a United Nations framework, by members of the European Union. [20414/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government and our EU partners share the strong international concern that Iran has not complied with its international obligations in respect of its nuclear programme. We remain committed to the search for a diplomatic solution. The EU has pursued this course steadily and with great patience, including in cooperation with the United States, Russia, and China.

The essential elements of this diplomatic approach are a sustained engagement with Iran to persuade it to meet its responsibilities and obligations, and the offer of a substantial package of proposals for improved relations in all fields, which was presented by the EU in June 2006, and which remains on the table.

The UN Security Council has three times issued a clear demand that Iran suspend its uranium enrichment programme, most recently in Security Council Resolution 1747 of 24 March 2007. The International Atomic Energy Agency has reported that Iran continues to ignore the demands of the Security Council. Security Council Resolutions 1737 and 1747 have therefore progressively introduced a range of sanctions targeted specifically at the nuclear and military sectors in Iran. In giving force to the Security Council Resolutions, the EU has both implemented the minimum measures set out in the Resolutions, and designated a number of additional names of persons and entities to whom they apply.

In view of Iran's failure to meet its obligations, the UN Security Council is now considering what further measures might be adopted under the UN Charter. There have also been suggestions, in particular from the French Foreign Minister, that in order to maintain pressure on Iran to negotiate seriously to resolve these issues, sanctions outside the UN framework might be adopted by the EU. It is important to note, however, that no such proposals have been presented for discussion within the EU and that the focus remains on the deliberations within the UN Security Council.