During the EP plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on Iran nuclear agreement. Statements by Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), Richard Stuart HOWITT (S&amp;D, UK), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), Cornelia ERNST (GUE/NGL, DE), Alyn SMITH (Greens/EFA, UK) and Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (EFDD, IT)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Iran (T)

CASTALDO, Fabio Massimo (NI, IT)

SMITH, Alyn (Greens/EFA, UK)

PREDA, Cristian Dan (EPP, RO)

TANNOCK, Timothy Charles Ayrton (ECR, UK)

SCHAAKE, Marietje (ALDE, NL)

ERNST, Cornelia (The Left, DE)

HOWITT, Richard (S&D, UK)

Iran nuclear agreement: extracts from the debate

Flags of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (1 shot).

SOUNDBITE (French), Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), "We can't sit on this agreement, the objective of this agreement is to prevent Iran from having access to nuclear precursors to build a bomb and we need a transparent verification mechanism. The essential thing - as you have signaled it - is the implementation of the of this comprehensive joint action plan, supervised by the IAEA, that would allow for economic and financial sanctions to be lifted upon Iran".   

SOUNDBITE (English), Richard Stuart HOWITT (S&amp;D, UK), "We endorse the proposal for the opening of an EU delegation in Tehran, but President, Europe is not and will not be uncritical. Europe's response can and must strengthen reformists within Iran. We will criticise the death penalty, but when 80% of the executions are drug related, and Iranians told us themselves that their policies in combating drugs are failing, surely EU cooperation in that fight against drugs can have some real influence."  

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), "The deal should also not deter the EU and its member states from criticising Iran when necessary. Its continued Human Rights abuses and sponsorship of terrorism have not been tamed by the so-called 'moderate' president Rohani. Under his leadership, the number of executions, including political dissenters and minorities has soared, with the average now standing around two per day, we rightly in my group readily condemned the barbarity of ISIS, but the Iranian regime ISIS' mortal enemy is only marginally better."

SOUNDBITE (English), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), "When the EU leads and when we are united, we see results. My compliments go to you, High Representative, your predecessors Solana and Ashton and your teams. I enjoyed seen pictures of the almost all-female group crew, but mostly the results that were reached behind closed doors. They must have inspired many women in Iran, too, wjo need room for participation in society and politics".

SOUNDBITE (German), Cornelia ERNST (GUE/NGL, DE), "Lastly, with this treaty a new relationship between Iran and the West begins and therefore we should immediately begin a dialogue on Human Rights, that's what we have promised to all victims in Iran, that have been murdered or that suffer today under the regime and I think this should be a priority in our agenda and we should push it forward".

SOUNDBITE (English), Alyn SMITH (Greens/EFA, UK), "And on trade, where we do have muscle and we do have leverage, after years of sanctions, the EU trade diplomacy surely gives us real leverage over Iran and that dialogue, is it too early to talk of an EU - Iran trade deal, and if it is, perhaps we can start thinking in that direction to encourage them into that dialogue."

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (EFDD, IT), "I really want to want to thank Federica Mogherini and her staff or the EEAS for the work and the success they have had in the negotiation. Nevertheless we have to say that the long-term objective has still not been achieved. The re-insertion of Theran into the international community is an issue which is of great importance and is going to cause a crisis in the positions of Riyad and Tel Aviv and also in some places in the West. We would hope that meanwhile we may be able to play a moderating role in the conflicts in the area and in fact to ensure that people do come around the negotiating table to find a sustainable peace".