TNAG-0930-FCO40-1148-Sanctions-against-Iran-extension-to-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 234

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GR 1230 CONFIDENTIAL

FRAME EXTERNAL

DESKBY 229800Z

FM UKREP BRUSSELS 212900Z MAY 30

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 2501 OF 21 MAY

3 0 MAY 1980

по

J 13.61 nybe

INFO IMMEDIATE BRUSSELS COPENHAGEN THE HAGUE ROME DUBLIN PARIS BONN LUXEMBOURG PRIORITY UKMIS NEW YORK WASHINGTON TOKYO

IRAN WORKING GROUP, 21 MAY

SUMMARY.

1. ALL OTHER MEMBER STATES APART FROM THE UK WILL BE IMPLEMENTING THE SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECISIONS MADE BY FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE NINE IN NAPLES ON 18 MAY, INCLUDING THE BANNING OF EXPORTS UNDER CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO AFTER 4 NOVEMBER 1979. UK WAS VERY STRONGLY PRESSED ON THE DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE OF UK MEASURES, AND AFTER CONSULTATION WITH LONDON SAID THIS WOULD BE DURING NEXT WEEK. THE OTHER EIGHT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE CONTENT OF UK SANCTIONS SHOULD CONFORM TO THAT OF THE OTHER MEMBER STATES, AS AGREED AT NAPLES. COMMISSION REFERRED TO THE POSSIBILITY OF LEGAL ACTION IF THERE WAS TOO MUCH DISCREPANCY EITHER IN DATE OF APPLICATION OF UK SANCTIONS OR IN THEÏR CONTENT AS COMPARED WITH

OTHER MEMBER STATES.

DETAIL.

2. UK DESCRIBED THE BACKGROUND TO ITS DECISION NOT TO APPLY SANCTIONS RETROSPECTIVELY BEFORE NOVEMBER, BECAUSE OF PARLIAMENTARY OBJECTIONS. THIS CREATED A POLITICAL PROBLEM FOR THE GOVERNMENT CONCERNING THE REGULATIONS WHICH WOULD BE INTRODUCED, WHICH PARLI A— MENT WOULD SCRUTINISE VERY CAREFULLY. TO ENSURE PASSAGE, THE GOVERNMENT WISHED TO BE ASSURED THAT ITS MEASURES WOULD HAVE PARALLEL EFFECT WITH THAT OF OTHER MEMBER STATES, AND THEREFORE WISHED TO RECEIVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE PARTICULARS OF WHAT OTHER

MEMBER STATES WOULD BE COVERING IN THEIR REGULATIONS.

POSITION OF OTHER MEMBER STATES.

3. AT FIRST ONLY DENMARK SAID THEY WOULD DEFINITELY BE PROCEEDING WITH THE FULL RANGE OF SANCTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NAPLES

DECISION WITH EFFECT FROM 22 MAY. GERMANY AND NETHERLANDS SAID THEIR

FOSITION WAS VERY CLOSE TO THIS. TO BEGIN WITH FRANCE SAID THAT THE UK DECISION NOT TO APPLY SANCTIONS RETROACTIVELY MUST AFFECT THEIR ATTITUDE. HOWEVER, AFTER CONSULTING PARIS, FRANCE REPORTED THAT THEY WOULD BE APPLYING THE SANCTIONS IN FULL, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NAPLES DECISION, INCLUDING BACKDATING BEFORE NOVEMBER. AFTER THIS THE OTHER SEVEN QUICKLY CONFIRMED FROM THEIR CAPITALS THAT THEY WOULD BE DOING THE SAME, LEAVING ONLY THE UK NOT TAKING ACTION ON 22 MAY.

CONFIDENTIAL

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