On 1 December 2011, the Council reiterated its serious and deepening concerns over the nature of Iran's nuclear programme, and in particular over the findings on Iranian activities relating to the development of military nuclear technology, as reflected in the latest International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report. In the light of these concerns and in accordance with the European Council Declaration of 23 October 2011, the Council agreed to broaden existing sanctions by examining, in close coordination with international partners, additional measures including measures aimed at severely affecting the Iranian financial system, in the transport sector, in the energy sector, measures against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as in other areas.

On 9 December 2011, the European Council endorsed the Council conclusions of 1 December 2011 and invited the Council to proceed with its work relating to extending the scope of the Union's restrictive measures against Iran as a matter of priority.

In this context, it is appropriate to prohibit or control the supply, sale or transfer to Iran of additional items, materials, equipment, goods and technology, that could contribute to Iran's enrichment-related, reprocessing or heavy water-related activities, to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems or to the pursuit of activities related to other topics about which the IAEA has expressed concerns or identified as outstanding, or to other weapons of mass destruction programmes. This prohibition should include dual-use goods and technology.

Recalling the potential connection between Iran's revenues derived from its energy sector and the funding of Iran's proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities and that chemical process equipment and materials required for the petrochemical industry have much in common with those required for certain sensitive nuclear fuel cycle activities, as underlined in UNSCR 1929 (2010), the sale, supply or transfer to Iran of further key equipment and technology which could be used in key sectors in the oil and natural gas industry or, in the petrochemical industry, should be prohibited. Moreover, Member States should prohibit any new investment in the petrochemical sector in Iran.

In addition, the purchase, import or transport from Iran of crude oil and petroleum products, as well as of petrochemical products, should be prohibited.

Moreover, the sale, purchase, transportation or brokering of gold, precious metals and diamonds to, from or for the Government of Iran should be prohibited.

In addition, the delivery of newly printed or minted or unissued Iranian denominated banknotes and coinage to or for the benefit of the Central Bank of Iran should be prohibited.

Furthermore, restrictive measures should be imposed against the Central Bank of Iran in view of its involvement in activities to circumvent sanctions imposed against Iran.

The restrictions on admission and the freezing of funds and economic resources should be applied to additional persons and entities providing support to the Government of Iran allowing it to pursue proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities or the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems, in particular persons and entities providing financial, logistical or material support to the Government of Iran.

The restrictions on admission and the freezing of funds applied to members of the IRGC should no longer be restricted to senior members but could apply to other members of the IRGC.

Moreover, additional persons and entities should be included in the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures as set out in Annex II to Decision 2010/413/CFSP.

Further action by the Union is needed in order to implement certain measures,