if Iran continued with business as usual.
Britain, France and Germany last week asked the 27-nation EU to tighten export rules so as to block the sale to Iran by any EU member state of technology that could be used to effect censorship or catch people opposing the regime.
That was a response to concerns that Nokia-Siemens, a Finnish-German joint venture, had sold Iran technology that helps police tap into email and cellphone exchanges.
But the EU statement approved Monday says nothing about technology exports. It simply expresses opposition to censorship and jamming and then ends lamely by stating that the 27 foreign ministers are “determined to pursue these issues and to act with a view to put an end to this unacceptable situation.”
The bland language shows that EU members who are opposed to a tough policy on Iran are still able to spike strong action. That bodes ill for efforts by Britain, France and Germany to impose EU sanctions on Iran if the United Nations does not act in the next few months.
Starting even before the June presidential elections, Iran periodically jammed the Eutelsat satellite that carries many foreign radio and television broadcasts into Iran. Eutelsat said it complained of the jamming in May 2009 and February 2010.
It has also asked the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which has been meeting this week, to take up the issue.
The Islamic Republic may have become concerned at the louder complaints from Britain, France and Germany and the prospect of ITU action. Eutelsat announced last Wednesday that Iran had not jammed any broadcasts for two weeks.
