The Dutch government supports a French proposal to impose tougher sanctions on Iran. Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal told parliament on Wednesday that “the path should be to tighten sanctions”.

Nevertheless, the minister says he would have to know what new sanctions Paris has in mind before agreeing to them. He thinks that, if there are to be any sanctions, they should target the regime and not the people of Iran. Rosenthal would prefer the UN to impose sanctions or, failing that, the EU and the United States. Parliament called for more sanctions after the International Atomic Energy Agency concluded this week that Iran was working on a nuclear weapon up until last year at least.

Military intervention
Intervention was not on the agenda, according to the minister:

“I am not prepared to consider preventive attacks or military intervention.” 

Minister Rosenthal refused to speculate about an Israeli attack on Iran. Most parties in the Dutch Lower House doubt that an Israeli attack would be helpful - an armed conflict would have disastrous consequences in the Middle East.

Opposition Labour MP Frans Timmermans said the European Union has not yet exhausted its sanctioning options, and pointed out that many European countries "are still cheerfully trading with Iran". Parties proposed various measures, ranging from a travel ban on members of the Iranian government to freezing diplomatic relations and discouraging Dutch people from travelling to Iran.

Human rights
The 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, human rights activist and lawyer Shirin Ebadi is arguing for an uncompromising approach to Iran. Speaking at the University of Amsterdam, she accused the EU of inconsistencies in its Iran policy. Three Iranian politicians blacklisted by the EU were quietly un-listed when they were appointed in Prime Minister Ahmadinejad's cabinet, she claimed.

Israel
Israeli media are speculating about military action against Iran, after President Shimon Peres hinted that an Israeli attack was getting more likely than a diplomatic solution. Next week, according to Dutch daily de Volkskrant, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will pay a visit to the Netherlands, which is generally considered a staunch ally of the Israelis. The aim of the visit is not clear.

Iran and possible sanctions are expected to be on the agenda of a European foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels on Monday.

(nc/rk/imm)