Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the EU is considering additional sanctions against Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8923/13]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the imposition of sanctions on Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8938/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 50 together.

Ireland fully supports the diplomatic efforts which are being made with Iran to address the serious international concerns relating to its nuclear programme. We also fully support the sanctions which have been imposed on Iran with a view to persuading it of the need for a negotiated solution of this problem.

Progressive sanctions have been reluctantly imposed by the EU, particularly in the last two years, after many years in which Iran simply refused to negotiate on this issue. During 2012, sanctions were extended to include oil and gas imports and increased restrictions on financial transactions and investment. We believe that these sanctions have been successful in bringing Iran to the negotiating table. However, the Iranians have as yet shown no real evidence that they are ready to engage seriously with this process.

A further round of talks with Iran, involving the E3+3 group and led by HR Ashton, is scheduled to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, at the end of this month. The United States, through Vice-President Biden, has recently repeated its willingness to meet directly with Iran to discuss issues on which they have differed.

However, the indications are not positive. Recent meetings between Iran and the IAEA have made no progress; and Iran has been reluctant to agree dates for the E3+3 meeting. The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reacted negatively in public to Vice-President Biden’s proposal for direct talks.

If there is no progress on the diplomatic track, there will inevitably be pressure to strengthen sanctions further. In addition, recently enacted additional US sanctions may lead to renewed pressure within the EU for a further tightening of bilateral EU sanctions against Iran. However, it will be difficult to go much further in this direction without reaching what amounts to a de facto trade embargo on Iran. Any further proposals for EU sanctions would have to be considered carefully by all member States and in the context of Iran’s engagement with the ongoing negotiations.

Ireland will continue to lend full support to High Representative Ashton and to the dual track approach which is being pursued by the E3 + 3 on this issue.