An EU Strategy for Relations with Iran after the Nuclear Deal

Please note: Each In-Depth Analysis is assigned a DOI (digital object identifier), which is a safe and long term way of ensuring a hyperlink to the full text of this report. However, when ESO creates this record, on occasion the DOI still has not been activated by the EU Bookshop. If you find the source url hyperlink does not work please use the alternative location hyperlink listed as a related url.This report outlines the potential for a more structured and strategic relationship between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Iran following the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed in July 2015.

To both address areas of disagreement and complaints, as well as pursue common interests and matters of mutual benefit, the EU needs to put in place an institutional framework that can withstand the various setbacks that have, to date, derailed all previous efforts of political dialogue. There are a number of areas where both actors can benefit from cooperation; trade, environmental and sustainability issues, education, and combatting drug trade.

Even when pursuing more contentious issues such as human rights, having a strategic and fully-fledged multilevel relationship will be helpful. There are also a number of political crisis in the region (ISIS, migration) where reaching a solution without Iranian involvement will either be unnecessarily costly or near impossible.

• Primary Source

European Parliament: Directorate-General for Internal Policies of the Union: Publications available via the EU Bookshop http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/directorate-general-for-internal-policies-of-the-union-cbf.cKABstF7wAAAEjwYYY4e5K/

http://eeas.europa.eu/iran/index_en.htm http://eeas.europa.eu/iran/index_en.htm

ESO: Background Information: Human rights are a litmus test for EU-Iran relations, say foreign affairs MEPs http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-human-rights-are-a-litmus-test-for-eu-iran-relations-say-foreign-affairs-meps/

ESO: Background Information: Joint statement by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif http://www.europeansources.info/record/joint-statement-by-eu-high-representative-federica-mogherini-and-iranian-foreign-minister-javad-zarif/

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