European Parliament's foreign affairs committee criticises human rights situation in Iran and demands tougher sanctions

The European Parliament's foreign affairs committee today called for tougher sanctions against representatives of the Iranian government. The EU Council of Ministers needed to assess the possibility to introduce more targeted sanctions against individual members and officials of the Iranian government who are responsible for human rights violations, MEPs demanded today.

"The EU needs to expand its targeted sanctions against the regime of Mr Ahmadinejad. Travel bans and the freezing of assets need to be applied to leading members of the government as well as officials", the EPP Group's shadow Rapporteur Michael Gahler MEP said.

Backing the twin-track approach of the EU's Council of Ministers, the foreign affairs committee also condemned Iran's refusal to co-operate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and called on Iran to fulfil its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

The committee also expected Turkey to conduct its negotiations on the basis of the decisions of the UN Security Council, noting that the agreement between Turkey, Brazil and Iran only partially meets the requirements of the IAEA. Turkey had to adhere to the EU position, and needed to focus on human rights as well, MEPs said in the resolution.

"The EU has to remain open for real dialogue, but needs to put credible sanctions on the table now", Mr Gahler concluded.

For further information:
Michael GAHLER MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847977
Lasse Boehm, EPP Group Press and Communications Service, Tel: +32-484-656897

Notes to Editors:
The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 265 Members.