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sanctions 21 March 2018

Europe mulls new Iran sanctions

France has made a case for new sanctions against Iran in view of the latter’s alleged interference in Syria and Yemen, as well as its ongoing ballistic weapons programme. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters at a meeting of his European peers that the 2015 ‘nuclear deal’ with Iran (the ‘Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action’ or ‘JCPOA’) should be respected, but added that:

‘We must not exclude Iran’s responsibility in the proliferation of ballistic missiles and in its very questionable role in the near- and Middle East… That must also be discussed to reach a common position.’

In October, President Trump refused to certify Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA, which provides Iran with relief from US, EU and UN nuclear-related sanctions in return for limits on its stockpiles and uranium-enrichment capacity for the next decade.

The Trump administration considers that Iran’s ballistic missiles programme violates the spirit of the JCPOA, as well as contravening UN Security Council Resolution 2231. This resolution endorsed the JCPOA and called upon Iran ‘not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons’ until 2023. Iran argues that its ballistic weapons programme is for defence purposes.

The European signatories to the JCPOA are under pressure to keep the US in the deal: President Trump has given them a deadline of 12 May by when what he termed the ‘terrible flaws’ of the deal should be fixed, or else he will refuse to extend sanctions relief or will withdraw from the deal entirely.

The US has already imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran through the Iran Ballistic Missiles and International Sanctions Enforcement Act, passed in November. It targets external support, imposing secondary sanctions against:

  • Iranian government agencies involved in ballistic missiles development not already covered by sanctions;
  • Foreign entities that supply material for, facilitate, or finance Iran’s ballistic missiles programme;
  • Foreign entities, including governments, that import, export or re-import prohibited arms to or from Iran;
  • Foreign entities that transfer goods or technologies that contribute to Iran’s ability to acquire or develop ballistic missiles or conventional weapons.