Thursday, 10 March 2011 - Strasbourg

Explanation of vote:

Pino Arlacchi (S&D) - Madam President, I voted in favour of this report because it clearly distinguishes between the two main dossiers on Iran: human rights abuses by the current government and the Iranian nuclear programme.

The report supports the Council’s double-track approach to the nuclear issue: sanctions on the one hand, but an offer of dialogue on the other.

It is indispensable to denounce the extremely serious human rights violations occurring in Iran today. The perpetrators, who belong mainly to state institutions, are acting with impunity.

At the same time, we should avoid irresponsible calls for an international armed intervention against the current tyranny. An armed attack against Iran in the name of human rights would be considered by all Iranians, regardless of their political positions, as an attack against the country and an additional violation of their fundamental rights.

The only winner in such an eventuality would be Mr Ahmadinejad.

[source: www.europarl.europa.eu]