From Engagement to Containment: EU–Iran Relations and the Nuclear Programme, 1992–2011

The paper surveys current EU–Iran relations, analysing both European Union statecraft towards Iran and the geo-strategic and economic determinants informing diplomacy. Since 1992, the EU's relations with Iran have been based on the framework of ‘constructive engagement’ in order to address areas of mutual concern through direct contact and dialogue. It is argued that since 2004, the EU has largely abandoned constructive engagement. Rather, the EU-3 have aligned themselves with US policy and shifted focus to Iran's alleged nuclear weaponization and supported Washington's strategy of deterrence and containment. It is argued that this shift in EU strategy has resulted in Iran moving closer to Turkey as a new third party mediator and strategic ally and has so far prevented an EU-brokered initiative to break the stalemate.