Iran is one of Switzerland's most important trading partners in the Middle East. In March, a Swiss power company and the National Iranian Gas Export Company signed a long-term agreement to secure the delivery of 5.5 billion cubic meters gas from Iran to Europe. The value of the deal is above 10 billion Euros.
Peter Zimmerman
Iran has stalled and teased and played the European Union three of Britain, France and Germany as an expert fisherman might handle the big one. For more than 18 years Iran violated its safeguards agreement with the Inter-national Atomic Energy Agency, in effect violating the Non-Proliferation Treaty, by conducting clandestine enrichment research and experiments without declaring them to inspectors.
Claude Moniquet
The question I was asked to answer today is not an easy one: is it any real threat of a wave of terrorist attacks sponsored by Iran, in Europe or in the United States, if a military operation is decided to solve the problem of the Iranian nuclear program? Sadly, I’m afraid the answer to this question is “yes”.
Simon Barrett
For much of their history, Russia’s relations with Iran were characterised by economic, territorial and political aggression. Under the Shah, Iran was an important American ally in the containment of the Soviet Union. Following the Islamic revolution, relations were still difficult because the USSR was a principal arms supplier to Iraq during the latter’s 1980-1988 war with Iran.
Frédéric Encel
Ethics has its place in geopolitics, contrary to popular belief. Ethics form a fundamental part of politics –otherwise a criminal relativism lies in store. Iran is gaining nuclear power of a specifically military type. This is their openly stated aim, even though Iranian diplomats currently claim the opposite. Iran is currently the third biggest oil-producing country in the world, the second biggest supplier of natural gas and, in addition, it is a country that could very easily install hydroelectric power stations.
Paolo Casaca, MEP
The time for Europe to end our two headed policy on the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism, Iran, is now. Iran, in violation of the recent unanimous UN Security Council Chapter 7 Resolution, has not only failed to stop enriching uranium, it has said with defiance that it will continue to enrich at a greater pace.
Turkey and Iran negotiate new gas pipeline project, Hurriyet, 30.06.2008
Serious new threats against Association of Iranian Journalists (AOIJ), ROOZ, 30.06.2008
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Latest Backgrounders |
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French Relations with Iran: A Tumultuous Relationship Lebanon and Iran: Backgrounder Syria and Iran: Relationship at a Crossroads? Hezbollah & Iran: A Convergence of Interests |
Open Letter to the EU to Stop the Iranian Regime from Developing Nuclear Weapons |
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