Les relations de l’Union européenne avec la République islamique d’Iran

une tradition de dialogue

Abstract

The EU, which has thousand-year-old relations with Iran, seeks a rapprochement with this regional power, who has become an islamic republic since the revolution of 1979. After a decade of mutual ignorance, a new dynamic has been given by the European Community to Euro-Iranian relations, as illustrated by the “critical dialogue” launched in 1992. This dialogue has gradually extended to areas as varied as trade, security, non-proliferation or human rights. However, the nuclear crisis has challenged the development of these relations. On the other hand, the nuclear issue has allowed the EU to play a significant role and to become more credible for Iran. To summarize, despite the nuclear issue and other obstacles, the EU has gradually developped a “tradition of dialogue” with Teheran. The EU’s relations with Iran recover very important stakes for both parties, as well in the economic and geopolitic fields as for EU’s coherence. Finally, the Islamic Republic of Iran also represents a real challenge for Europe as a (very specific) power.