TNAG-0930-FCO40-1148-Sanctions-against-Iran-extension-to-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 128

on Diplomatic Relations.

All States have a concern that

respect should be paid to these basic principles. It is more- over essential in the view of the British Government that the allies should show solidarity with the US at this difficult time when the ability of the United States to protect its legitimate interests is being challenged, and its political standing undermined, in an area of the world where the West's economic and political stake is very great and where stability

is increasingly threatened.

6.

Accordingly, when the US request for help from the European Community and the United States' other major OECD partners was received, the British Government urged that the Nine should make a positive response. The Foreign Ministers, meeting in the margins of a Council of Europe meeting in Lisbon on 9 April, expressed their solidarity with the United States

and instructed the representatives of the Nine in Tehran to

make an immediate démarche to the Iranian Government. Then at

a meeting in Luxembourg on 22 April, Foreign Ministers of the

Nine agreed on a common range of political measures against

Iran, including a formal arms embargo, the introduction of

visas and reductions in their Embassy staffs in Iran and in the size of Iranian Embassies in their capitals. They also

agreed to proceed with economic sanctions in conformity with

the vetoed draft Security Council Resolution if there was no

decisive progress on the release of the hostages by 17 May. In the meantime, each Member State would take any necessary powers to implement the sanctions. In accordance with this

commitment the Government secured the passage through Parliament

of the Iran (Temporary Powers) Act 1980, which received the Royal Assent on 15 May.

7. On 17/18 May, the Foreign Ministers of the Nine reviewed the position at an informal meeting in Naples. They decided that there had not been sufficient progress to warrant the deferment of the sanctions to which they were committed. It was agreed that Member States would accordingly make the

necessary Orders to implement sanctions.

+

18.