Council Conclusions on Iran.

WASHINGTON -- The Council Of The European Union Adopted The Following Conclusions On Iran Today:

"The Council discussed Iran's nuclear programme. The Council deplored Iran's failure to take the steps repeatedly required by the IAEA Board of Governors and the United Nations Security Council. It welcomed the unanimous adoption of Security Council Resolution 1737 on 23 December 2006. This decision represents a necessary and proportionate response to Iran's disregard for the concerns of the international community and for Security Council Resolution 1696.

The Council welcomed the measures in Resolution 1737, which are targeted against the most sensitive parts of the Iranian nuclear and missile programmes, and called on all countries to implement the measures in full and without delay.

To ensure effective implementation of measures in UNSCR 1737 while remaining consistent with EU policy, and recalling the EU policy not to sell arms to Iran, Ministers agreed that the EU should prevent the export to and import from Iran of the goods on the NSG and MTCR lists; ban transactions with and freeze the assets of individuals and entities covered by the criteria in UNSCR 1737; ban travel to the EU of the individuals covered by these criteria; and take measures to prevent Iranian nationals from studying proliferation sensitive subjects within the EU.

The Council welcomed the Security Council's decisions to request a report by the IAEA Director General within 60 days, and to review Iran's action in the light of that report; and that it shall suspend the implementation of measures if and for as long as Iran suspends all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development as verified by the IAEA, to allow for negotiations; and, in the absence of Iranian compliance, to adopt further measures under Article 41 of Chapter VII of the UN Charter, in order to persuade Iran to fully comply with the Security Council's Resolutions and the requirements of the IAEA Board of Governors. The Council, in this context, underlined its continued commitment to an incremental and proportionate approach.

The Council reiterated at the same time its continuing support for efforts to find a negotiated long term solution. It reaffirmed its support for the far-reaching proposals presented to Iran by the EU

High Representative on 6 June 2006 which would open the way for a new relationship with Iran based on mutual respect and expanded cooperation, and called upon Iran to seize the opportunity of reaching a negotiated solution."

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