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Iran

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Last reviewed: 19 March 2009

Country information

Map of Iran

Area: 1.648 million sq km (636,296 sq miles)
Population: 70 million (UN estimate for 2000)
Capital City: Tehran (population: approx 12-15 million)
People: The majority are Persian, but there is a significant Azeri minority. Other ethnic groups include Kurds, Arabs, Lurs, Baluchis and Turkmen
Languages: Persian (Farsi) is the national language. Azeri is the next most widely spoken language, most Azeri speakers living in the northwest around Tabriz. Other minority languages include Kurdish, Arabic, Luri and Baluchi
Religion(s): The official religion is Shi'a Islam. The majority of the population are Muslims, approximately 91% are Shi'a, 8% are Sunni. The rest are mainly Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian or Bahá'í
Currency: £1 = 13880.42  (February 2009) Iranian Rials (10 Rials=1 Toman)
Government: Islamic Republic
Head of State: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamene'i
President: Dr Mahmud Ahmadinejad
Foreign Minister: Manuchehr Mottaki
Membership of international groups/organisations: see International Relations for more details

ECONOMY

Basic Economic Facts

GDP (2006): $184.5 billion
GDP per capita: (2008) $5.247
GDP Growth (2006): 4.7%
Inflation: (est)11.2%
Unemployment: (est) 11%
Major Industries: Oil provides about 80% of export earnings and 50% of government revenue. Other main trading areas are gas, petrochemicals, mining,agriculture, car manufacturing, mineral products, metal fabrication, and food processing Major trading partners (OECD): Germany, Japan, France, Italy, UAE, China, UK, and South Korea.

Nuclear

Summary

Since 2003 the UK, along with Franceand Germany (the “E3”) and with strong backing from the EU and othersin the international community, has been engaged in a diplomaticprocess to encourage Iran to co-operate fully with the InternationalAtomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and take steps that would assure theinternational community that its nuclear programme is exclusively forpeaceful purposes.

The “E3 plus 3” group of countries (China,Russia and the US joined the E3 in diplomatic efforts in 2006) hasargued that these steps must include, crucially, suspension of alluranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities (low enricheduranium can be used as a fuel for nuclear power reactors; highlyenriched uranium can be used as the fissile material for nuclearweapons). This principle has underpinned five Security Councilresolutions 1696, 1737, 1747 1803 and 1835, all of which require Iranto suspend these activities and cooperate with the IAEA, and three ofwhich impose sanctions.

We have made clear that we do notdispute Iran's right to a civil nuclear power generation programme, andthat provided Iran puts in place and sustains an acceptable suspensionwe could negotiate long-term arrangements on the basis of a generousoffer backed by the E3 plus 3 group. However, to date Iran has not beenprepared to meet these terms and has not suspended its enrichmentrelated activities.  We will continue to urge Iran to suspendenrichment and come to the negotiating table, but will apply morepressure to Iran if it fails to do so.

Background

On 15November 2004, Iran approved an agreement with the E3 about its nuclearprogramme, in which it agreed to suspend fully all enrichment-relatedand reprocessing activities and to sustain the suspension whilenegotiations took place on long-term arrangements which would provideobjective guarantees that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively forpeaceful purposes, and lay the groundwork for wider nuclear, economicand technological co-operation.

On 5 August 2005, the E3presented proposals to the Iranian government, as foreshadowed in ameeting in Geneva on 25 May 2005 between E3 Foreign Ministers andHassan Rouhani, the senior Iranian negotiator at the time. Thefollowing is a summary of those proposals and is self explanatory.

E3 EU Proposals for a Long term Agreement

Followingthe election of a new hardline President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranresponded by breaking off the negotiations. First it resumed conversionof uranium ore into the feed material for enrichment centrifuges(uranium hexafluoride or UF6) and then, in February 2006, fullenrichment of uranium. The UK, France and Germany (with EU support)have since worked closely with US, China and Russia (the E3 plus 3) topersuade Iran to reinstate the suspension and return to talks. Themeasures requested of Iran in IAEA Board and Security Councilresolutions would not affect Iran's pursuit of nuclear energy. However,Iranian suspension of these activities would restore the internationalcommunity's confidence that Iran is not seeking the know-how to makefissile material for weapons.

2006 Offer

In June 2006,Javier Solana on behalf of the E3 plus 3 presented Iran with afar-reaching package of proposals and made clear that if Iran took thesteps required by the IAEA Board as expressed in several resolutions,we would hold off further action at the UN Security Council('suspension for suspension'). Our proposals offered Iran everything itwould need to develop a modern nuclear power industry, such as helpbuilding power stations, guaranteed supplies of fuel and cooperation onnuclear research. Iran would also get trade benefits that wouldstimulate the investment it needs to provide jobs for a growingpopulation. In a genuinely historic decision, the US said it would joinany talks and consider, in a final agreement, lifting sanctions on Iranfor the first time since 1979 in areas where Iran's needs are mostacute, such as civilian aircraft and IT. However Iran chose not toaccept the 2006 proposal. And rather than suspend enrichment - a legalobligation since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution (SCR)1696 on 31 July 2006 - it has continued its activities ever since.

E3 proposal June 2006

TheUN Security Council adopted SCR 1737 on 23 December 2006. TheResolution extended the range of sensitive nuclear activities Iran islegally obliged to suspend, required Iran to give additional access tothe IAEA, banned the export of certain goods relevant to sensitivenuclear and missile programmes, imposed an asset freeze on listedentities/individuals and introduces a variety of other targetedsanctions against those involved in nuclear proliferation relatedactivities.  The Security Council then adopted SCR 1747 on 24 March2007 , which listed more individuals and entities, including somelinked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), imposed a banon exports of arms from Iran and placed restrictions on exports to Iranof heavy weapons and related services.

On 3 March 2008 theSecurity Council adopted SCR 1803 which imposed travel restrictions,and in some cases full travel bans, against named Iranian entities andindividuals, called on member states to exercise vigilance on theactivities of named Iranian banks, added more dual-use items to embargolists, and requested member states to inspect cargoes to and from Iranoperated by Iran Air Cargo and Iran Shipping Line.

UNSCR 1737

UNSCR 1747

UNSCR 1803

E3 Plus 3 Offer 2008

On14 June 2008 EU High Representative Javier Solana, accompanied by E3plus 3 Political Directors (minus the US), visited Tehran and presenteda revised E3 plus 3 offer to the Iranians. On 19 July Solana met theIranian negotiator Saeed Jalili in Geneva to hear the formal Iranianresponse. This time he was accompanied by all 6 Political Directors,including the US representative. The terms of the E3 plus 3 offer againincluded a firm indication from the Iranian side that they wereprepared to suspend their enrichment related and reprocessingactivities, which would then enable the start of a process of dialogueleading to full negotiations. The Iranians did not address thesuspension issue at the Geneva meeting and have failed to give apositive response to the E3 plus 3 offer.

A Fifth UN Security Council Resolution

On27 September 2008, the UNSCR passed a further resolution whichreaffirmed the commitment of the Security Council to diplomatic effortsto resolve the Iran nuclear issue, and called upon Iran to comply fullyand without delay with its obligations to the UN and the IAEA.  Theresolution was agreed unanimously.

UNSCR 1835

AllUN Security Council Resolutions have offered Iran a way out, ie that ifIran suspends enrichment-related, reprocessing and heavy-water relatedactivities, the Security Council will suspend the sanctions process foras long as Iran maintains its suspension (so called 'doublesuspension').  The E3+3 has also offered Iran a "freeze-for-freeze" asa route into suspension.  If Iran suspends its enrichment-related,reprocessing and heavy-water related activities, the E3+3 will freezethe discussion of all new sanctions against Iran at the UNSC.  Thiswould last for no longer than six weeks, at which point Iran would haveto suspend its programme, and the E3+3 would in turn suspend sanctions.

Howeverthe most recent report of the Director General of the IAEA, DrEl-Baradei, released on 19 February 2009, makes clear that contrary tothe requirements of the Security Council, Iran continues to enrichuranium and is still failing to give the IAEA the access andcooperation it needs to fulfil its duties.  The IAEA has been unable tomake any progress on concerns about the possible military dimensions ofIran’s nuclear programme because of Iran’s lack of cooperation.

Present

TheE3 plus 3 offer remains on the table and diplomatic efforts continue. Officials from the E3 plus 3 met in early 2009 and restated theirunity and commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to the Irannuclear issue.  The choice facing Iran is clear: suspend enrichment,take up the generous E3+3 offer and enjoy a transformed relationshipwith the international community; or continue on the path ofconfrontation, increasing isolation and tougher and expanded sanctions.


History

See relevant sections under Politics and International Relations.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Iran have been cut off and restored several times since the 1979 Revolution.

Iran's relations with most countries improved following the reformist President Khatami's election 1997. United Kingdom/Iran relations were fully restored after Iran gave assurances in 1998 that it had no intention of threatening the life of Salman Rushdie. The UK and Iran exchanged Ambassadors in 1999.

The UK wants Iran to be a secure and prosperous country, co-operating with and respected by the international community, but we will maintain a robust dialogue on issues of concern.  These issues include human rights and fundamental freedoms, Iran's nuclear programme, and Iran's support for terrorism and for groups seeking to undermine regional security.  As the Foreign Secretary said on 5 December 2007, “Iran has the potential to be one of the world’s great nations. It enjoys enormous advantages. Its people should be reaping the benefit of these to the full, not seeing their country treated as an international exile. There is a clear choice facing the Iranian leadership. On the one hand, a transformed relationship with the international community, including the US, bringing political, economic and technological benefits. On the other, further isolation. No one can make this choice for Iran’s leaders. But I hope they have the foresight and inspiration to make the right one for their people, who deserve no less.”

In June 2002 European Union (EU) Foreign Ministers agreed to the negotiation of a Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) between Iran and the EU.  Negotiations were suspended in June 2003 due to EU concern over Iran's nuclear programme.  In light of the IAEA's resolution on 24 September 2005 (supported by further regular statements, most recently 19 February 2009), finding Iran non-compliant with its safeguards agreements, there are no plans at the moment for further negotiating on the TCA or parallel negotiations on a Political Agreement.  This confirms the EU's readiness to explore ways to further develop political and economic co-operation with Iran, once Iran has taken action to address the concerns of the EU.

United States/Iran relations have not formally been restored since they were broken off in 1980.  In January 2002 President Bush referred to Iran as part of an 'Axis of Evil' and in 2006 the Iran Freedom Support Act imposed sanctions for a further five years.  On 28 May 2007 US and Iranian Ambassadors to Iraq met to discuss Iraq, together with senior members of the Iraqi government.  They have since met again in July and August 2007.  We welcomed these meetings which were the first official meetings between the US and Iranian Governments since 1980.  On 25 October 2007 US Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice said she remained ready to meet her Iranian counterpart 'anytime, anywhere, to discuss any issue' as soon as Iran had complied with its international obligations and suspended its enrichment programme.

On the possibility of military action against Iran, whilst the United Kingdom, along with the rest of the international community, is deeply concerned by Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, we are committed, together with the E3+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US) to a twin-track approach, intended to apply pressure on Iran to persuade it to engage in negotiations on a long-term agreement which would address the concerns of the international community over Iran's nuclear programme. The Foreign Secretary said on 27 February 2009  that “the UK is committed to working with our international partners to help meet the challenge. Our intention is to develop a mechanism for the assured supply of nuclear fuel to states seeking nuclear energy, without the need to further develop their own domestic enrichment and reprocessing programmes.”

Iran's relations with Iraq have not fully recovered from the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988). However, during the 2003 Iraq conflict, Iran declared itself neutral.  Whilst criticising military action, Iran made a commitment to remain outside the conflict.  Iran says that it wants to work towards a stable and cohesive Iraq and is working with the Iraqi authorities in a number of areas such as border control and power supply.  Iran hosted a conference on 30 November 2004, to discuss security in Iraq, ways to help the Iraqis stage their general election on schedule, and counter- insurgency.  Interior Ministers and security officials from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria, Turkey, Jordan and Egypt participated.  Iran also participated in the Sharm el Sheikh Iraq Neighbours Meeting on 4 May 2007, which resulted in an agreement to establish three neighbours’ working groups on security, refugees and food supplies.  On 2 March 2008 President Ahmadinejad visited Baghdad.  The Iraqi President, Prime Minister and Defence Minister visited Tehran in 2006 and 2007.

However, we are gravely concerned that Iran is also providing explosives, detonators and training to the Shi'a militia who are engaged in operations against United Nations forces in Iraq.  Any Iranian links to armed groups in Iraq outside the political process, either through supply of weapons, training or funding, are unacceptable.  They undermine Iran's proclaimed long-term interest in a secure, stable and democratic Iraq.

Elsewhere in the region, Iran publicly expresses its support for stability in Afghanistan, having suffered from the Afghan civil war and then the Taliban.  Iran has pledged $560m over five years to the reconstruction of Afghanistan.  The two countries have developed good counter-narcotics co-operation.  But evidence exists of arms supplies to the Taleban originating in Iran, which is a worrying development.

Iran does not accept the two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians.  Iranian leaders have argued that Israel's existence is illegitimate, because it came about as a result of the destruction of Palestine.  Iran continues to hold a vehement anti-Israel stance and President Ahmadinejad has made several provocative statements including calling for Israel to be “wiped off the map”.  Iran has been very critical of the Middle East Peace Process and we are concerned at the material and political support which groups undermining peace in the Middle East through violence draw from within Iran.

Cultural relations with the UK

The British Council suspended its operations in Iran on 31 January 2009 Please visit www.britishcouncil.org for further details.

A seminar took place in March 2002 to bring together academic and faith leaders to hold an inter-faith dialogue as part of the Dialogue Among Civilisations.  The Dialogue was an initiative proposed by former President Khatami, and adopted by the UN for the year 2001, aimed at strengthening understanding between different peoples and cultures.  This is a theme which the UK endorses, and indeed the UK as a member of the EU supported Iran's successful bid at the UN to have the Dialogue extended.

An exhibition of contemporary British sculpture was shown at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art throughout March and April 2004.  The British Council was responsible for organising this first exhibition of British art ever to be seen in the Islamic Republic, covering developments in British sculpture during the 20th century. 

In late 2005, the British Museum, in co-operation with the Iran Heritage Foundation, and by way of loans from the National Museum of Iran, held a four month long 'Forgotten Empire-the world of Ancient Persia Exhibition'.  In September 2006 the British Council participated in the 1st Persia Education and Training Exhibition (PETEX) which attracted thousands of young Iranians to Tehran.  The objectives of the exhibition were to exchange knowledge and experience between Iranian and foreign educational institutes and create a synergy and partnership between centres.

On 19 February 2009 the British Museum’s ‘Shah ‘Abbas: The Remaking of Iran’ exhibition opened.  The exhibition, showcasing many artefacts in the UK for the first time, will run until 14 June 2009.

Visits

The Foreign Affairs Committee visited Iran in November 2007 as part of their work on the report 'Global Security: Iran', which was published in March 2008.  The FAC had previously visited in October 2003.

Saeed Jalili, then Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe, visited the UK in September 2007. Jalili visited the UK again in November 2007 as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

Manouchehr Mottaki, Foreign Minister, visited the UK in January 2006 to attend an international conference on Afghanistan.

In June 2006 the British Group of the Inter Parliamentary Union visited Iran.

Eshaq Jahangiri, former Minister of Industries and Mines, visited the UK in November 2004.

Prince Charles visited Iran in February 2004 in his capacity as the Patron of the British Red Cross. The visit was a demonstration of the concern for the people of Iran following the tragic earthquake in Bam.

Former Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi visited the UK in February 2003 and April 2004.

Former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw visited Tehran on 25 September 2001.  One of the main aims of his visit was to discuss the international fight against terrorism following the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in the US on 11 September. He paid four more visits to Iran, the last in October 2003.

In February 2001, Mo Mowlam became the first British Cabinet Minister to visit Iran since the revolution. The visit centred on efforts to curb drug trafficking from Afghanistan through Iran and into Europe, in part through signing a Memorandum of Understanding on drugs issues.

GEOGRAPHY

Iran is located in the Middle East and is bounded to the north by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan and the Caspian Sea, to the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan, to the south by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and to the west by Iraq and Turkey.  It is nearly seven times the size of the UK and twice the size of Turkey.  The centre and east of the country is largely barren desert, punctuated by oases.  There are mountainous regions in the west along the Turkish and Iraqi borders and in the north, where the Alborz Mountains rise steeply from a fertile belt around the Caspian Sea.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Trade and investment with the UK

UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Iran

POLITICS

Recent Political Developments

The last Presidential elections took place on 24 June 2005.  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a hardline conservative former mayor of Tehran beat former President Rafsanjani (1989 - 1997), a “pragmatic conservative”.  President Ahmadinejad secured just over one third of the votes in the second round.  He replaced the reformist President Khatami (1997 -2005). Although there was a relatively high voter turnout of approximately 59%, the Guardian Council, an unelected body of clerics and jurists that vets candidates, prevented the vast majority of candidates, including all females, from standing.  There were also concerns about vote-rigging in the first round of the two-round election.

The political fallout from the election has seen the further marginalisation of reformists and increased tensions between traditional and pragmatic conservatives on the one hand and the ascendant younger radical hard-liners, linked to the new president, on the other.  The political influence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Basij and other security apparata has increased after Ahmadinejad’s election, with numerous official positions in Tehran and the provinces now occupied by those linked to these bodies.

Ahmadinejad was elected on a populist conservative agenda promising social justice, economic redistribution and an anti-corruption campaign.  Since his election, he has expanded his influence in the foreign policy arena, through public speeches and appeal to mass opinion, although the constitution gives the Supreme Leader the leading role in foreign policy making.  However, Ahmadinejad’s economic management has come under increasing criticism: he is being blamed for high inflation as a result of extravagant public spending, and a likely medium-term fall in oil production as foreign investment dries up.

The Supreme Leader appears to be generally supportive of the president's policies, although he has criticised the government for failing to curb inflation.

Relations between the President and the outgoing Majles (parliament) have been difficult, most noticeably over Ahmadinejad's ministerial appointments, the budget and planned subsidy reform. The last Majles election was in March 2008, when about a third of candidates were disqualified from standing.  Many of those disqualified were reformists.  The EU expressed “deep regret and disappointment” over the high level of disqualifications, which it said “prevented the Iranian people from being able to choose freely amongst the full range of political views in their country” and were “a clear violation of international norms”, making the election neither free nor fair.

The next Presidential election is due to take place in June 2009.

Constitution

The present Constitution was adopted after the 1979 revolution.  It stipulates that Iran is an Islamic Republic and the teachings of Islam are to be the basis of all political, social and economic relations.

Overall authority is vested in the Supreme Leader, currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is chosen by the Assembly of Experts, an elected body of 86 religious scholars chosen from all over Iran.  The Supreme Leader is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

The executive branch is headed by a President, elected by universal adult suffrage for a term of four years and restricted by the Constitution to no more than two consecutive terms in office.

Legislative powers are held by the Majles, consisting of 290 elected members who represent regional areas or religious communities for a four-year term.  Iranian Christians, Zoroastrians and Jews have dedicated Majles representatives.  All legislation passed by the Majles is sent to the Council of Guardians for approval.  The Majles also approve the members of the Council of Ministers, the Iranian equivalent of the UK's Cabinet, who are appointed by the President.  The Council of Guardians reviews legislation passed by the Majles for constitutionality and adherence to Islamic law.  It is composed of six theologians appointed by the Supreme Leader and six jurists nominated by the judiciary and approved by the Majles.  The Council of Guardians also has the power to vet candidates for the Majles, local councils, the Presidency and the Assembly of Experts.

The Council for the Discernment of Expediency was created in 1988 to resolve disputes over legislation between the Majles and the Council of Guardians.  In August 1989 it became an advisory body on national policy and constitutional issues for the Supreme Leader.  It is currently led by former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and includes the heads of all three branches of government and the clerical members of the Council of Guardians. The Supreme Leader appoints other members for a three-year term.

BBC website: Iran's Political System

Political parties were legalised in 1998 after a 13-year ban and are still at an early stage of development.  Parties must accept the principle of Velayat-e Faqih meaning rule by the Islamic Jurist or 'Faqih' – the Supreme Leader.

Factions, particularly in the Majles, are most often defined broadly as 'reformist' or 'conservative'.  The dominant faction in the Majles is currently Abadgaran, the Development Coalition of Islamic Iran, whose platform is conservative.

HUMAN RIGHTS

The human rights situation in Iran remains poor. Restrictions of freedom of expression and freedom of religion are worsening. Journalists, academics, human rights defenders, and ethnic and religious minorities (such as members of the Baha’i faith) face harassment, intimidation, arbitrary detention and threats of prosecution. The use of the death penalty is rising, and Iran is one of the few countries in the world that still executes juvenile offenders. Although rare, cruel and inhumane punishments such as flogging, stoning and amputations remain on the statute books.  We have serious concerns about the lack of effective action to reform laws, institutions and official practices in Iran.  Two major issues of concern are:

The death penalty

We are extremely concerned about the increasing use of the death penalty in Iran, and the absence of many of the most basic standards surrounding its use. Iran remains second only to China in terms of total number of executions. According to Amnesty International estimates, there were over 350 executions in 2008, compared to 300 in 2007 and 177 in 2006. This included the execution of at least eight juvenile offenders – under the age of 18 at the time of their offence – in a clear breach of Iran’s international human rights commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Freedom of expression

Restrictions on freedom of expression have been tightened over the past year.  There has been a noticeable clampdown on any form of organised protest, including arrests of student protesters, women’s rights campaigners, trade unionists and teachers. Censorship of the print media continues and newspapers and magazines are regularly shut down. The Iranian Government has been known to issue directives forbidding press coverage of, and debate about, certain political issues, and criticism of the Supreme Leader is not tolerated. The internet is popular in Iran, especially amongst the younger generation, and Iran has one of the largest and most active blogging populations in the world. However the internet is not immune from government censorship: websites and blogs that provide news or critical comment are routinely blocked and internet connection speeds are deliberately limited in order to restrict access to foreign websites and audio and visual internet services.  Many journalists and bloggers now self-censor their work, and there is growing reluctance amongst individuals and non-governmental organisations to have contact with foreign embassies or governments, following the arrest of several individuals on charges of espionage.

UK action

There are many individuals in Iran who continue to work to improve the human rights situation in their country despite the intimidation that they face. Iranian human rights lawyer and  Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Shirin Ebadi is just one of the brave individuals who speaks out tirelessly against human rights violations and oppression of minority groups. Dr Ebadi herself became a target for the Iranian government in December 2008, when authorities forcibly closed her Centre for Human Rights Defenders and subjected her and her staff to harassment and intimidation.  
It is the longstanding policy of the UK and the EU to support reform in Iran and stand up for the international human rights standards to which so many Iranians aspire. We remain deeply concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation, and the apparent reluctance on the part of the government to undertake the necessary reforms in this area. The international community clearly has a duty to respond, and human rights remain a central part of our policy approach towards Iran. We, and the EU, have consistently said that our relations with Iran also depend on the steps it takes to address its poor human rights record.
The UK Government continues to raise our individual cases and general human rights concerns with the Iranian authorities regularly and at all levels, we do so bilaterally and through the EU. This enables us to discuss specific violations and the need for effective reforms, and to continue to press Iran to uphold its obligations under international human rights conventions. We also take action at the United Nations and, along with all other EU countries, co-sponsored a resolution at the last UN General Assembly, which expressed serious concern at the human rights situation in Iran. The resolution was adopted in December 2008 for the sixth consecutive year, sending a strong and consistent message of international concern at the human rights situation in Iran.

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Iran

Address:

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
16 Prince's Gate
London SW7 1PT

Consular Section:
50 Kensington Court
London W8 5DB

Telephone:

(020) 7225 3000
(020) 7937 5225 Consular

Fax:

(020) 7589 4440
(020) 7938 1615 Consular

Website: www.iran-embassy.org.uk