RESOLUTION B3-0175 and 0177/93

Resolution on the militarization of Iran

The European Parliament

A.disturbed and shocked by the November 1992 report by the United Nations special representative, Mr Reynaldo Galindo Pohl, on the flagrant systematic human rights violations in Iran,

B.recognizing that Iran is increasingly approaching the point where it will be in a position to develop nuclear weapons,

C.stressing that Iran continues to pursue an aggressive foreign policy, and recalling the condemnation by the Gulf states of the occupation of the islands of Tumb and Abou Moussa, which belong to the United Arab Emirates, by Iranian troops,

D.deeply concerned by recent reports of attempts by the Rafsanjani Government to acquire nuclear arms and at reports that the states of the former Soviet Union have made nuclear warheads that were present on their territory, together with nuclear scientists, available to Iran,

E.concerned by the increased efforts by the Rafsanjani Government to propagate fundamentalism and export terrorism with the intention of imposing Iran's hegemony on the sensitive and strategically important Middle East region,

F.whereas, on the fourth anniversary of the sentencing to death of Salman Rushdie, the new Iranian spiritual leader, Ali Khameini, confirmed the sentence and called on the British Government to hand over the writer to Iran so that it could be carried out,

1.Condemns the continuing violation of human rights in Iran, particularly the persecution of women and religious minorities;

2.Instructs its Subcommittee on Human Rights to organize a hearing on the human rights situation in Iran;

3.Calls on EPC to agree a policy by which all Member States would forbid the sale or export of all arms and materials, especially those used in the production of weapons of mass destruction, to Iran;

4.Stresses the duty of prosecuting authorities in Member States to bring to justice people and organizations which take part in illegal trade with Iran or cooperate with its terrorist agents;

5.Calls for there to be close cooperation in this matter by the Community and its Member States with the successor states to the Soviet Union at the Armaments Convention;

6.Supports the declaration issued by the Gulf Cooperation Council of 8 and 9 September 1992 expressing its indignation at the moves to occupy the islands of Tumb and Abou Moussa, moves which violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one of its member states and endanger the security and stability of the region;

7.Calls on EPC to give this matter its full attention immediately and to take appropriate action on the basis of the information available to it;

8.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to EPC and the governments of the Member States and Iran.