The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Iran.

The resolution had been tabled by the ECR, Greens/ALE, EPP, EFD, S&D, ALDE, and GUE/NGL groups.

On democracy and human rights : noting that the political situation in Iran is continuing to deteriorate, Parliament expresses serious doubts concerning the accuracy of the election results in June 2009 which led to the confirmation of President Ahmedinejad in office for a second term, despite strong indications of large-scale electoral fraud. It considers that the legitimacy of the Iranian President has been seriously undermined. Members pay tribute to the courage of all those Iranian citizens who are expressing their wish to live in a society free from repression and intimidation, and support wholeheartedly the democratic aspirations of the Iranian people. Parliament deeply deplores the fact that the Iranian Government and Parliament are apparently incapable of responding to the justified demands of Iranian citizens, in particular the young generation, who have seen their hopes for economic and social development stifled for too long.

The resolution strongly condemns the use of violence on 11 February by the Iranian authorities against demonstrators and calls for the immediate release of all those detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights to free expression and assembly. It strongly condemns the death sentences imposed and executions carried out in Iran, in particular in the case of Mohammed Reza Alizamani and Arash Rahmanipour, which were the first death sentences to be carried out which have been linked by official sources to the protest movement, despite the fact that at least one of them was already in prison at the time of the elections. The Iranian authorities are asked to stop charging protesters who peacefully demonstrate for more democratic rights with 'Moharabeh' (waging war on God), an offence which carries the death penalty.

Members further condemn the Iranian authorities' efforts to censor the print media and to jam radio, television and Internet services, such as the BBC, and to ban contacts with foreign non-governmental organisations. It calls for an immediate stop to the practice of televised show trials. Parliament strongly criticises international companies, in particular Nokia Siemens , for providing the Iranian authorities with the necessary censorship and surveillance technology, thus being instrumental in the persecution and arrest of Iranian dissidents. Parliament calls on the Commission and Council to take immediate steps to ban the export of surveillance technology by European companies to countries, such as Iran, whose governments could use it to violate freedom of expression.

It goes on to state that it is concerned about the nature of demonstrations held in front of Member States' embassies in Tehran on 9 February 2010 as being orchestrated by the Basij militia, and calls on the Iranian authorities to guarantee the safety of diplomatic missions. The resolution deplores the allegations of interference in internal Iranian affairs made against staff members of European embassies and, in this context, calls on the Iranian authorities to comply with the Vienna Convention and respect diplomatic norms.

Lastly, Parliament is appalled at attempts by the government and/or the security forces to assassinate presidential candidates or members of their families, and calls on Supreme Leader Khamenei to guarantee the safety of prominent representatives of the Iranian opposition.

On the nuclear issue : notwithstanding Iran's right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes under the rules of the non-proliferation regime, Parliament reiterates that the proliferation risks in connection with the Iranian nuclear programme remain a source of serious concern to the EU and to the international community. It deplores the fact that no substantive progress has been made on key issues of serious concern, and repeats its calls to Iran to restore the transparency of its nuclear programme by, inter alia, providing credible answers to the IAEA. Members deplore the fact that the Iranian Government has again rejected all attempts to achieve a compromise on the nuclear issue and that the Iranian regime is apparently seeking to use this issue both as a means of distracting attention from the crisis in the country and as a tactic to win time and avoid discussion in the UNSC of further sanctions. Members regard the latest pronouncements by the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as being part of these tactics. They support the European Council's twin-track approach and all efforts to find a negotiated long-term solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. Any further sanctions in the context of the nuclear threat should exclude measures that would have negative consequences for the Iranian people as a whole , and a serious debate should be launched at EU level on the possibility of introducing such targeted sanctions.

On EU-Iran relations : the resolution underlines the importance of the continuation of dialogue with Iran at all levels , and calls on the Council to remain ready to engage with Iran, taking account of what should be Iran's legitimate security interests and concerns, including the long-term prospect of a nuclear weapons-free Middle East. It deplores the fact that the Iranian side cancelled the scheduled visit by the European Parliament delegation and expresses the hope that the Iranian Government and Parliament will review their position on direct contacts.

On the matter of sanctions, Parliament calls for the existing list of individuals and organisations subject to the EU travel ban and freezing of assets to be extended to include those that are responsible for the repression and curtailment of freedom in the country and those responsible for the breach of Iran's international commitments on the nuclear issue.

Parliament also emphasises that the possible conclusion of a cooperation and trade agreement between Iran and the EU is contingent on respect for the principles of democracy, freedom of expression and the rule of law, as well as on Iran's full compliance with UNSC and IAEA resolutions and the provision of objective guarantees regarding the peaceful nature of its nuclear programme and the cessation of Iran's support for terrorist activities.

Lastly, the Commission is invited to establish a European Union delegation in Tehran.

The Foreign Affairs Council discussed the situation in Iran.

Ministers focused on the next steps as regards the nuclear question. They reviewed the situation in the light of the outcome of the New York meeting of political directors from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Germany and the EU on 16 January 2010 and of the latest statements by Iran.

The Union continues to be committed to the international community's dual-track approach of seeking a negotiated solution with Iran while standing ready to take further measures if Iran fails to reassure the international community of its peaceful intentions, in line with the European Council declaration of December 2009.