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 - EU strategy with regard to Iran’s nuclear threat and the implementation of EU sanctions resulting from the snapback mechanism

EP Plenary session- EU strategy with regard to Iran’s nuclear threat and the implementation of EU sanctions resulting from the snapback mechanism

DROI - The EU strategy to promote and to protect human rights of women worldwide

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

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

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)

Iran nuclear agreement: extracts from the debate

During the EP plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on Iran nuclear agreement. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC.

Iran nuclear agreement: extracts from the statement by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC

Martin SCHULZ, EP President, awards the 2012 Sakharov Prize to two Iranian activists, lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and film director Jafar Panahi, at a formal sitting of European Parliament during the December plenary session, in Strasbourg.

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2012 to Nasrin Sotoudeh, Iranian Human rights lawyer: extracts

Bastiaan BELDER (EFD, NL) presents a draft report on EU's approach towards Iran to the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), in the European Parliament in Brussels.

EU's approach towards Iran: extracts from the draft report presentation by Bastiaan BELDER (EFD, NL)

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate about the new developments on the case of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, the Iranian woman condemned to death, and the case of Zahra Bahrami, an Iranian-Dutch national.

Human rights in Iran: extracts from the vote on the case of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani and of Zahra Bahrami

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate about the new developments on the case of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, the Iranian woman condemned to death.

Human rights in Iran: extracts from the debate on the case of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani

Jerzy BUZEK, EP President, opens the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, informing MEP about the new developments on the case of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, the Iranian woman condemned to death.

Human rights in Iran: statement by Jerzy BUZEK, EP President, on the case of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani

The Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) exchange views in "huis clos" with Manouchehr MOTTAKI, Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

EP - Iran: cutaways from the exchange of views with Manouchehr MOTTAKI, Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister, and press point

Visit of Manouchehr MOTTAKI, Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister to the European Parliament in Brussels. Shakehands with Martin SCHULZ (S&D, DE), roundtable of meeting and statement by Martin SCHULZ (S&D, DE) and Gabriele ALBERTINI (EPP, IT), Chair of the AFET Committee.

EP - Iran: meeting of Manouchehr MOTTAKI, Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister with Martin SCHULZ (S&D, DE) and Gabriele ALBERTINI (EPP, IT)

Statements by Barbara LOCHBIHLER (Greens/EFA, DE), and F. HEREDIA, representative of the Spanish EU Council Presidency durig a meeting of the SubCommittee on Human Rights on the Human Rights in Iran in view of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the forthcoming HRC elections.

Human Rights in Iran in view of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the forthcoming HRC elections: extract from the exchange of views

Shirin EBADI, Iranian Nobel Peace laureate meets with Hans-Gert PÖTTERING, EP President in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Hans-Gert PÖTTERING, EP President, meets with Shirin EBADI, Iranian Nobel Peace laureate: meeting and extracts from the press point

Shirin EBADI, Iranian lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize 2003, participates to a joint meeting of the Delegation for Relations with Iran and the Subcommittee on Human Rights on the occasion of the International Women's Day.

International Women's Day - "From quota to parity": Shirin EBADI at the joint meeting of the Delegation for Relations with Iran and the Subcommittee on Human Rights

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