Research On The EU’s Sanctions Policy Against Iran(1993-2021)

After the establishment of the European Union in 1993,the EU has gradually established a series of Middle East Policies that are in line with its own strategic interests.As a major country in the Middle East,Iran is naturally highly valued by the European Union.On the basis of economic and trade cooperation,the EU adopts a Contact Foreign Policy based on dialogue,strengthens ties with Iran from both political and economic aspects,and then develops bilateral diplomatic relations.However,the differences between Europe and Iran on human rights have continued from the European Community to the European Union,hindering the development of EU-Iran diplomatic relations.The differences between the EU and Iran on anti-terrorism,weapons of mass destruction,the Middle East peace process and other issues also make the development of EU-Iran bilateral relations difficult.Iran’s nuclear program has become the main point of disagreement between the EU and Iran at this stage.Iran’s tough attitude on the nuclear issue has seriously curbed the development of EU-Iran diplomatic relations.In addition,the United States Secondary Sanction Policy has also affected the EU’s sanctions policy on Iran,intensifying the differences between the EU and Iran,and the EU-Iran bilateral relationship has once again encountered new challenges.Therefore,on the basis of dialogue and communication with Iran,the EU adopts sanctions policy side by side.The EU hopes to resolve the differences between the EU and Iran through contact diplomacy within the dual-track framework of communication and sanctions,and develop EU-Iran bilateral relations.The EU’s sanctions policy on Iran has gone through three stages: Targeted Sanctions,Mixed Sanctions and EU Autonomous Sanctions.The scope and intensity of EU sanctions against Iran have also gone through three periods,from easing to tightening,and then to relatively loosening.The reason is mainly due to the policy differences between the EU and the U.S.,as well as EU Member States on sanctions against Iran.The policy differences between the EU and the U.S.mainly include the following aspects: Firstiy,the U.S.implements a Secondary Sanctions Policy,while the EU does not.In addition,in order to counteract the impact of the U.S.Secondary Sanctions Policy on EU-Iran relations and the EU’s sanctions policy against Iran,the“Blockade Regulations” to impose counter-sanctions on the U.S..Secondly,different from the U.S.,which has always adopted the Policy of Comprehensive Sanctions against Iran,the scope and intensity of EU sanctions against Iran have gone through a stage from easing to tightening and then to relatively loosening.Moreover,even during the Mixed Sanctions Policy period,the EU imposed sanctions on Iran in a wide-ranging and high-intensity,and the scope and intensity of EU sanctions are difficult to match the U.S..Thirdly,the United States hopes to overthrow the Iranian regime through sanctions,while the goals of EU sanctions on Iran are relatively diversified,namely,to solve the Iranian nuclear issue,develop relations with Iran and promote Iran to establish a democratic regime;to get rid of the influence of the U.S.on EU sanctions on Iran,and to strive for the right to speak on the Iran issue and other issues in the world.Judging from the policy differences among EU Member States,first,each EU Member States has different attitudes towards the U.S.sanctions against Iran.Among EU Member States,only the United Kingdom is the most supportive of the U.S.sanctions policy.Second,each EU Member States bears the losses of sanctions against Iran differently.Italy,Spain and Greece in southern Europe are highly dependent on Iranian oil and can’t afford the economic losses caused by sanctions against Iran.France and Germany are reluctant to impose large-scale and high-intensity sanctions on Iran because of their close economic and trade exchanges with Iran.Third,the EU Member States have different diplomatic relations with Iran.Although most of the EU member states have not close diplomatic relations with Iran,they are unwilling to worsen their diplomatic relations with Iran.Germany is the least willing to damage bilateral relations with Iran due to sanctions.The EU imposes sanctions on Iran mainly from three aspects.The first is the EU’s Human Rights Sanctions against Iran.Sanctions include Asset Freezing,Prohibition of Funding and Travel Ban,Equipment Restrictions and Technical Blocking.The second is the EU’s sanctions on Iran’s anti-terrorism issues.Sanctions are divided into Anti-Money Laundering,Anti-Terrorist Financing,Asset Freezing,Prohibition of Funding and Travel Ban.Finally,the EU sanctions against the Iranian nuclear issue.The sanctions are Trade Restriction and Technical Blocking,Asset Feezing and Travel Ban,Financial Supervision and Energy Purchase Ban.Since the Iranian nuclear issue is the main issue for EU sanctions against Iran at this stage,the EU sanctions on the Iranian nuclear issue are the most complicated.Although sanctions against Iran have made the EU pay a heavy economic price,the sanctions policy has achieved initial results due to the smooth signing and entry into force of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,the EU has thus gained more international discourse power.Under the long-term sanctions of the United States and the European Union,Iran has gradually reduced its dependence on Western countries,and has begun to seek new development opportunities through “Eastward” Diplomacy.The United States continues to implement the Policy of Comprehensive Sanctions against Iran and the Policy of Secondary Sanctions,highlighting the difference between the EU and the U.S.in sanctions against Iran after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action came into effect.