Defying international criticism, Iran has sentenced many protestors to death, and continues to execute people arrested during recent demonstrations.

The demonstrations started in mid-September after a young woman, Mahsa Amini, died in the custody of the ‘morality police’ for, they claimed, breaking the strict hijab rules. Hundreds of people have been killed in the protests that have followed and thousands arrested because of their brutal repression by the government.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called these death sentences “state sanctioned killing”, and said that the Iranian government is using executions to intimidate the population and stamp out dissent.

While the EU is discussing a fourth round of sanctions because of the regime crackdown and Iran's military support for Russia, some member states have called for the classification by the EU of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.

EU - Iran

MEPs assess the latest developments in the Middle East, in particular in Iran, and what the EU can do to help restore peace.

Parliament reviews the latest events in the region, including the US airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities at the end of June 2025, and Israel’s earlier attacks on Iranian targets, which led to Iran launching missiles at Israeli cities. In a plenary debate on 16 June, the EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, said that Iran, as the main source of regional instability, must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. She also defended diplomacy as the best way to address Iran's nuclear programme in the long run.

MEPs are also expected to repeat their calls for an end to the deplorable humanitarian situation in Gaza, for a new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and for a hostage release agreement.

Plenary debate on the situation in Middle East

Joint Debate - Situation in the Middle East
Risk of further instability in the Middle East following the Israel-Iran military escalation
Review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Joint Debate - Situation in the Middle East

MEPs and the Commission discuss Iran’s state-sponsored terrorism in light of recent attacks in Europe.

The debate follows recent reports by European security services that Iran may have been involved in the explosions and shootings that took place near the Israeli embassies in Stockholm and Copenhagen, by using local criminal gangs. European officials have also warned of an increase in assassination attempts by Iranian intelligence targeting Jews and regime critics on European soil.

The European Parliament has long been a vocal critic of the Iranian clerical regime for its brutal suppression of the democratic aspirations of its own citizens, as well as its support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. MEPs have also called for the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be placed on the EU terrorist list.

State sponsored terrorism by the Islamic Republic of Iran in the light of the recent attacks in Europe

Parliament evaluates the escalating violence in the Middle East and the latest developments in Lebanon with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. This discussion follows the anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis on 7 October 2023, and which has since triggered ongoing conflict in Gaza and broader regional instability.

As Israel intensifies ground operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, around 100 Israeli hostages remain unaccounted for, and casualty numbers in Gaza continue to rise. In response to the conflict, Iran has launched ballistic missiles at Israel. High Representative Borrell has emphasized the EU's commitment to prevent a regional war. MEPs have previously called for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian aid access, with reports from the Gaza Health Ministry indicating that approximately 40,000 Palestinians have died since October 2023 due to Israel's response to the attack by Hamas.

Escalation of violence in the Middle East and the situation in Lebanon

EP Plenary session - Situation in the Middle East

EP Plenary session - Joint Debate - Situation in the Middle East

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

EP Plenary session - State sponsored terrorism by the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of the recent attacks in Europe

EP Plenary session - Escalation of violence in the Middle East and the situation in Lebanon

Delegations for relations with Iran Constitutive meeting

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 144) Latest attacks against women, women's rights defenders in Iran, and its arbitrary detention of EU nationals

DROI -  Exchange of views on the human rights situation one year after the death of Iranian Masha Amini

EP Plenary session - Statement by the VPC/HR - Iran: one year after the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini

AFET DROI joint meeting - Exchange of views on ‘How to support Human Rights, Freedom and Democracy in Iran

Delegation for relations with Iran - FEMM joint meeting Exchange of views with 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin EBADI on the situation of women in Iran

Charlie WEIMERS meets Crown Prince of IRAN Reza PAHLAVI

EP Plenary session - EU response to the protests and executions in Iran

Roberta METSOLA, EP President delivers a speech at the Iranian Solidarity Rally in Strasbourg

EP Plenary session - EU response to the increasing crack-down on protests in Iran

DROI subcommittee  - Exchange of views on the ongoing mass protests in Iran

DROI Committee - Exchange of views on women’s role in the rights and freedoms protest in Iran and government crackdown

Live replay of the EP Plenary session Iran nuclear agreement - MEP's debate - Round of political group speakers

EP Plenary session: Iran nuclear agreement - MEP's debate - Round of political group speakers - Cornelia ERNST (GUE/NGL, DE) (15:29 - 15:30)

EP Plenary session: Iran nuclear agreement - MEP's debate - Round of political group speakers - Mario BORGHEZIO (ENF, IT) (15:33 - 15:35)

EP Plenary session: Iran nuclear agreement - MEP's debate - Round of political group speakers - Georgios EPITIDEIOS (NI, EL) (15:35 - 15:36)

EP Plenary session: Iran nuclear agreement - MEP's debate - Round of political group speakers - Klaus BUCHNER (GREENS/EFA, DE) + blue card (15:25 - 15:29)

EP Plenary session: Iran nuclear agreement - MEP's debate - Round of political group speakers - Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL) (15:23 - 15:25)

EP Plenary session: Iran nuclear agreement - MEP's debate - Round of political group speakers - David MCALLISTER (EPP, DE) (15:16 - 15:18)

Live replay of EP Plenary session on Iran nuclear agreement 12.06.2018 in Strasbourg. Opening and opening statement by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC

EP Plenary session: Iran nuclear agreement - Opening and opening statement by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC (15:00 - 15:16)

EP Plenary session: Iran nuclear agreement - MEP's debate - Round of political group speakers - Victor BOŞTINARU (S&D, RO) (15:18 - 15:21)

Live replay of the EP Plenary session debate on Iran nuclear agreement - Closing statement

EP Plenary session: Iran nuclear agreement - Closing statement (16:45 - 16:55)

EP Plenary session: Iran nuclear agreement - MEP's debate and catch the eye (16:14 - 16:45)

EP Plenary session: Iran nuclear agreement - MEP's debate (15:36 - 16:14)

During the plenary session (11-14 June 2018) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate the consequences and the EU’s response to US President Donald TRUMP’s decision to quit the Iran nuclear deal, with EU foreign policy chief Federica MOGHERINI. MEPs may look for more explanations on how reintroducing US sanctions might hit deals made between Iran and some EU companies. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Victor BOŞTINARU (S&D, RO), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL) and Klaus BUCHNER (Greens/EFA, DE).

Iran nuclear agreement: extracts from the debate

During the EP plenary session (28-31 May 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate and vote on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Statements by Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Klaus BUCHNER (Greens/EFA, DE), Soraya POST (S&D, SE), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL) and Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, on the situation of imprisoned EU-Iranian dual nationals in Iran. Statements by Barbara LOCHBIHLER (Greens/EFA, DE), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL) and Bill ETHERIDGE (EFDD, UK) on Women's rights defenders in Saudi Arabia. Statements by Julie WARD (S&D, UK) and Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, on Sudan, notably the situation of Noura Hussein Hammad

Cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law: extracts from the debate and extracts from the vote

During the EP plenary session (15-18 January 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the situation in Iran. Statements by Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Knut FLECKENSTEIN (S&D, DE), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK) and Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL).

Situation in Iran: extracts from the debate

During the EP plenary session (24-27/10) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on EU strategy towards Iran after the nuclear agreement. Statements by Richard Stuart HOWITT (S&amp;D, UK), Miguel ARIAS CA&Ntilde;ETE, Member of the EC in charge of Climate Action and Energy, Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), Elmar BROK (EPP, DE), Victor BOSTINARU (S&amp;D, RO), and Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK).

EU strategy towards Iran after the nuclear agreement: extracts from the debate

Statements by Bernd LANGE (S&amp;D, DE), Elżbieta BIEŃKOWSKA, Member of the EC in charge of Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Victor BOŞTINARU (S&amp;D, RO), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), Javier COUSO PERMUY (GUE/NGL, ES), Klaus BUCHNER (Greens/EFA, DE) and Pavel TELIČKA (ALDE, CZ) during the debate of the 22/06&nbsp;on US sanctions impacting EU business in Iran, during the EP plenary session&nbsp;(22 - 23 June 2016) in Brussels.

US sanctions impacting EU business in Iran: extracts from the debate of the 22/06

Meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs with Mohammad Javad ZARIF Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the EP in Brussels. Statements by Mohammad Javad ZARIF Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Richard Stuart HOWITT (S&amp;D, UK), Tunne KELAM (EPP, EE), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (EFDD, IT), and Ulrike LUNACEK (Greens/EFA, AT)

Exchange of views with Mohammad Javad ZARIF Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran: extracts from the meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

Visit of Mohammad JAVAD ZARIF, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, to the EP in Brussels. Arrival and&nbsp;welcome by Martin SCHULZ, EP President

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