Iran Flashcards
(13 cards)
What are the factors the have led to the EU imposition of sanctions on Iran?
Human rights abuses, nuclear proliferation, and military support for Russia.
What is the background for sanctions on Iran for human rights?
Annual renewal since 2011, since October 2022 there has been a drastic increase, adopting ten packages due to deteriorating human rights.
What are specific restrictive measures for human rights violations?
Travel bans and asset freezes for individuals and entities, prohibition on making funds or economic resources available to those listed, and a ban on selling, supplying, transferring or exporting equipment that might be used for internal repression.
What sanctions have been implemented against military activities?
Three rounds of drone-related sanctions against Iranian individuals or entities in 2022 and 2023 under the sanctions regime.
What sanctions has the EU placed on Iran in relation to its nuclear program?
Bans on arms exports, dual-use goods, and goods for enrichment activities; bans on key energy sector equipment, gold, precious metals, and diamonds, and bans on certain naval equipment and software.
What is the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action?
Diplomatic efforts involving the E3/EU+3 and Iran with the aim of ensuring Iran’s nuclear program would be peaceful.
What does the JCPOA involve?
A comprehensive lifting of all UN Security Council, multilateral and national sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear programme.
What happened in 2018 in relation to the JCPOA?
President Trump announced the unilateral US withdrawal from the JCPOA and the re-imposition of sanctions on Iran.
What were the consequences of US withdrawal from the JCPOA?
EU companies faced penalties for dealing with Iran.
What was the response to the US withdrawal from JCPOA?
The European Commission implemented the “Blocking Regulation”.
What is the Blocking Regulation?
Forbids EU persons from complying with extraterritorial sanctions with the intention of counteracting the unlawful effects of third-country extraterritorial sanctions.
What is the structure of the Block Regulation?
The core of the Regulation is Article 5, which prohibits EU operators from complying directly or indirectly with any requirement or prohibition. EU companies cannot cease or refrain from certain commercial activities solely because they are sanctioned by listed foreign laws.
How is the Blocking Sanction enforced?
Member States are responsible for determining the sanctions to be imposed in the event of a breach which must be effective, proportionate, and dissuasive.
