Letter of 8 January 2019 from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stef Blok, and the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Kajsa Ollongren, to the President of the House of Representatives on sanctions against Iran on the grounds of undesirable interference

On 8 January 2019 the European Union, partly at the recommendation of the Netherlands, imposed sanctions in the context of the EU sanctions lists (Common Position 2001/931/CFSP) on the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security and two Iranian nationals. This means that funds and other financial assets of the Ministry and both individuals have been frozen. On the basis of information gathered by the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) and foreign intelligence services, the Netherlands considers it probable that Iran had a hand in the preparation or commission of assassinations and attacks on EU territory. When the sanctions were announced today, the Netherlands, together with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark and Belgium met with the Iranian authorities to convey their serious concerns regarding Iran’s probable involvement in these hostile acts on EU territory. Iran was informed that involvement in such matters is entirely unacceptable and must be stopped immediately. Iran is expected to cooperate fully in removing the present concerns and, where necessary, in aiding criminal investigations. If such cooperation is not forthcoming, further sanctions cannot be ruled out.

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