The Council adopted the following conclusions on Iran. Firstly, it welcomed the resolution adopted by the IAEA Board of Governors on 4 February with the overwhelming support of Board members. It supported the Board's decision to involve the United Nations Security Council. The Council believed that if Iran continues to fail to heed the repeated requests made in successive IAEA Board resolutions, the Security Council should put its weight behind the Board's requests and the IAEA's efforts to resolve outstanding questions.

The Council regretted Iran's decision to withhold voluntary cooperation with the IAEA, contrary to the Board's requests and to Iran's earlier decision to implement the provisions of its Additional Protocol. Iran's decision to limit cooperation further increases international concerns and suspicions about Iranian intentions and makes it more difficult for the IAEA to resolve outstanding issues.

The EU deplored Iran's resumption of enrichment-related activities, including enrichment at Natanz. Iran's introduction of nuclear material into centrifuges on 13 February in defiance of repeated calls by the IAEA Board of Governors and the international community is also a step in the wrong direction. The IAEA Board has repeatedly called for Iran to suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities as an essential confidence-building measure. The restoration of international confidence requires full transparency and cooperation from Iran.

The Council reaffirmed the EU's continued support for a diplomatic solution. It urged Iran to reinstate a full suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities. The Council called on Iran to meet in full all of the Board's requests in good time before the next Board meeting on 6 March. The Council welcomed Russia's efforts to seek a way forward involving the offer to Iran of a financial stake in an enrichment joint venture on the territory of the Russian Federation, conditional on Iran's resumption of the moratorium

on all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities.

The EU does not question the right of Iran to the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in conformity with its obligations under the NPT, a right which the EU has consistently reaffirmed. If international concerns about Iran's programme are fully addressed, the EU would be prepared, as already stated in its August 2005 proposal, to support the development of a safe, sustainable and proliferation-proof Iranian civilian nuclear programme.

The Council recalls its conclusions of 16 December 2005, which agreed on the need to keep the EU's diplomatic options under close review and continue to calibrate the EU's approach in light of Iranian declarations and actions, the Council agreed that Iran's resumption of enrichment activities is a negative development. It is time for Iran to reconsider its position on these activities and other areas of concern in order to avoid further deterioration of its relationship with the EU.

Lastly, the Council calls on Iran to lift all discriminatory restrictions against individual EU Member States.

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

- The EU is gravely concerned at the removal of seals at several nuclear installations, including at Natanz, and Iran's decision to resume enrichment related activities. The EU calls on Iran to reinstate the seals and to re-establish full, sustained and verifiable suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities as called for repeatedly in IAEA Board of Governors' resolutions as an essential confidence-building measure.

- In line with the requests made in IAEA Board of Governors' resolutions, the EU emphasises the need for Iran to refrain from all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities until international confidence is restored.

- This is not a dispute between Iran and Europe, but between Iran and the international community. The EU does not question the right of Iran to the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in conformity with its obligations under the NPT, a right which we have consistently reaffirmed. The dispute is about Iran's failure to build the necessary confidence as to the exclusively peaceful nature of its programme. This confidence has further eroded as a result of the unilateral steps Iran has taken contrary to its commitments. The Council noted with concern that the Director-General has reported that the IAEA is not yet in a position to clarify some important issues after two and a half years of intensive inspections and investigation and that Iran's full transparency is indispensable and overdue.

- In the light of recent Iranian actions, which run counter to IAEA resolutions and which are a

rejection of the efforts to explore whether a basis can be agreed for resuming negotiations, the

European Union Member States will closely coordinate and work for the forthcoming extraordinary meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna to involve the UN Security Council to reinforce the authority of the IAEA in line with these conclusions. This is a necessary and appropriate step, fully in line with the IAEA Board of Governors' resolution of September 2005, which found that Iran had been non-compliant with its Safeguards Agreement and that the history of concealment of Iran's nuclear activities and the nature of these activities had given rise to questions within the competence of the Security Council.

- The EU believes that the issue can still be solved by negotiations; but this will require a cooperative and transparent approach on the part of the Iranian government with the IAEA, and the return to full suspension.

- The EU remains committed to a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue in which the IAEA should play a central role. Involvement of the Security Council does not end the IAEA's responsibilities; on the contrary it strengthens them.

- The EU will remain fully engaged in this issue. The EU Member States will closely coordinate their action both in the framework of the IAEA in Vienna and of the United Nations in New York, in coordination also with international partners. The Council recalls in this context its support for the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, including their means of delivery.

The Council recalls that it has repeated that the evolution of its long-term relationship with Iran would depend on action by Iran to address effectively all the EU's areas of concern. The Council regards Iran's resumption of enrichment-related activities as a negative development that will impact on the overall relationship which we will review in the light of actions taken by Iran. The Council reiterates that it is up to Iran to determine, through its actions, whether its long-term relationship with the EU will improve or deteriorate.

The Parliament adopted a resolution on the Non-Proliferation Treaty 2005 Review Conference. It reaffirms its position that the NPT is of vital importance to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to nuclear disarmament.

Firstly, Parliament calls on EU and its Member States – in a spirit of 'effective multilateralism' and solidarity and in pursuit of the EU Strategy against the proliferation of WMD – to form a common front at the NPT Review Conference in 2005 and make a positive contribution to the discussions. It urges that their statements attach special importance to new initiatives on nuclear disarmament and the revitalisation of the UN Conference on Disarmament. In addition, it calls on the EU to work with its international partners, including NATO, to develop and promote the principles to prevent terrorists, or those that harbour them, from gaining access to weapons and materials of mass destruction.

The Council and the Commission are called on to come forward with a proposal to persuade third states and the Member States which have not yet done so to sign and ratify the IAEA Additional Protocols.

The importance and urgency of signature and ratification, without delay, without conditions and in accordance with institutional processes of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is stressed, to ensure its earliest possible entry into force. Parliament reiterates its call for the USA to stop the development of new generations of battlefield nuclear weapons (bunkerbusters) and to sign and ratify the CTBT; also calls on the USA to clarify the situation as regards the quantity and strategic objectives of its tactical nuclear arsenals stationed on European bases.

Israel, India and Pakistan are called upon to become States Parties to the NPT.

Parliament expresses its concern that Hassan Rowhani, Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, reiterated in February 2005 that Tehran would not give up its 'right under the NPT to enrich uranium', and calls on the Iranian authorities to stop making confusing and contradictory statements. Moreover, it takes notes that Russia and Iran signed a nuclear fuel supply agreement paving the way for Iran to start up its first atomic reactor in Bushehr next year and obliging Tehran to repatriate all spent nuclear fuel to Russia. The Commission and the Council are called upon to open an initiative with the Government of the Russian Federation to obtain guarantees that its recent agreement with Iran on the delivery of nuclear material is solely intended for civilian use and to ensure support for EU diplomatic efforts. It counts on the IAEA to monitor closely the fuel transfers between Russia and Iran.

Lastly, Parliament is deeply concerned about North Korea’s declaration stating that it possesses nuclear weapons and suspended its participation in the six-party talks on its nuclear programme for an indefinite period of time. The Council and the Commission are called upon to offer financial support for heavy fuel oil supplies to remedy North Korea's primary energy needs.

T6-0075/2005
OJ C 320 15.12.2005, p. 0172-0253 E

Results of vote in Parliament

The Parliament adopted a resolution on the Non-Proliferation Treaty 2005 Review Conference. It reaffirms its position that the NPT is of vital importance to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to nuclear disarmament.

Firstly, Parliament calls on EU and its Member States – in a spirit of 'effective multilateralism' and solidarity and in pursuit of the EU Strategy against the proliferation of WMD – to form a common front at the NPT Review Conference in 2005 and make a positive contribution to the discussions. It urges that their statements attach special importance to new initiatives on nuclear disarmament and the revitalisation of the UN Conference on Disarmament. In addition, it calls on the EU to work with its international partners, including NATO, to develop and promote the principles to prevent terrorists, or those that harbour them, from gaining access to weapons and materials of mass destruction.

The Council and the Commission are called on to come forward with a proposal to persuade third states and the Member States which have not yet done so to sign and ratify the IAEA Additional Protocols.

The importance and urgency of signature and ratification, without delay, without conditions and in accordance with institutional processes of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is stressed, to ensure its earliest possible entry into force. Parliament reiterates its call for the USA to stop the development of new generations of battlefield nuclear weapons (bunkerbusters) and to sign and ratify the CTBT; also calls on the USA to clarify the situation as regards the quantity and strategic objectives of its tactical nuclear arsenals stationed on European bases.

Israel, India and Pakistan are called upon to become States Parties to the NPT.

Parliament expresses its concern that Hassan Rowhani, Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, reiterated in February 2005 that Tehran would not give up its 'right under the NPT to enrich uranium', and calls on the Iranian authorities to stop making confusing and contradictory statements. Moreover, it takes notes that Russia and Iran signed a nuclear fuel supply agreement paving the way for Iran to start up its first atomic reactor in Bushehr next year and obliging Tehran to repatriate all spent nuclear fuel to Russia. The Commission and the Council are called upon to open an initiative with the Government of the Russian Federation to obtain guarantees that its recent agreement with Iran on the delivery of nuclear material is solely intended for civilian use and to ensure support for EU diplomatic efforts. It counts on the IAEA to monitor closely the fuel transfers between Russia and Iran.

Lastly, Parliament is deeply concerned about North Korea’s declaration stating that it possesses nuclear weapons and suspended its participation in the six-party talks on its nuclear programme for an indefinite period of time. The Council and the Commission are called upon to offer financial support for heavy fuel oil supplies to remedy North Korea's primary energy needs.

T6-0075/2005

B6-0148/2005

B6-0152/2005

B6-0153/2005

B6-0174/2005

B6-0182/2005

B6-0185/2005

RC-B6-0148/2005

Debate in Parliament