2023-06-202022/23:UU10 · p.13UUForeign affairs
Iran
EU policy on Iran: expanded sanctions on the Revolutionary Guard
What's at stake: The outcome affects how hard the EU presses the Iranian regime following the violent crackdown on protests, and could affect the assets and travel of any individuals who end up sanctioned.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether Sweden should actively push within the EU for expanded sanctions against senior figures in Iran's Revolutionary Guard, other regime representatives and their relatives, or whether the current line should remain unchanged.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee considers that the EU's and Sweden's work on shared foreign-policy challenges already covers the issues raised in the motions, and therefore does not see grounds for a separate statement from the Riksdag on tightening sanctions against Iran, and rejects the motions accordingly.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 19 (S, C)
The reservation calls for the government, alongside efforts to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, to also push within the EU for expanded sanctions against senior figures in the Guard, other representatives of the Iranian regime, and their relatives, in order to increase pressure on the regime. The reasoning cites the extensive repression of peaceful demonstrators in Iran, including mass arrests, torture and deaths, together with the regime's pursuit of regional-power status and nuclear-weapons development.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 19 by S, C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/94/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 14/0/1/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/20/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Abstain 0/0/61/11 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| MPAmanda Lind (MP, Stockholms län) | Abstain — party line: Yes |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2022/23:849 by Kerstin Lundgren et al. (C) item 23, 2022/23:1769 by Markus Wiechel et al. (SD) items 1-3 and 9, 2022/23:1965 by Lawen Redar et al. (S) item 4, and 2022/23:2040 by Azadeh Rojhan et al. (S) items 1 and 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:849 av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C) yrkande 23, 2022/23:1769 av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 1-3 och 9, 2022/23:1965 av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S) yrkande 4 och 2022/23:2040 av Azadeh Rojhan m.fl. (S) yrkandena 1 och 2.
Riksdag decision: Parliament directed an instruction, a so-called tillkännagivande (formal request), to the government to actively work to create consensus within the EU to list the state-sponsored Russian so-called Wagner group as a terrorist organisation under the EU's counter-terrorism sanctions. In connection with the tillkännagivande, Parliament also highlights that there is likely a need to upgrade the EU's regulations on terrorist listing so that it can better address threats from actors with state connections. According to current regulations, terrorist listing requires that a group is subject to legal proceedings for terrorism offences. There must therefore be an ongoing or concluded legal process. The tillkännagivande came in connection with Parliament's review of a letter from the government on activities in the European Union during 2022 with accompanying motions, including on sanctions against Russia. Parliament rejected the motions and laid the letter to the records, that is, closed the matter.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to highlight the EU's role and added value in handling cross-border challenges and crises. (S, C) — Reservation 19
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan demands an independent foreign policy where respect for international law, human rights and women's liberation are guiding, and points to reactionary regimes that uphold women's oppression with brutal force.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands an independent foreign policy where respect for international law, human rights and women's liberation are guiding, and points to reactionary regimes that uphold women's oppression with brutal force. Expanded sanctions against the Revolutionary Guards and regime representatives are one way to increase pressure in that direction. The plan, however, gives no support for terrorist designation as a tool and says nothing about sanctions against relatives.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver en självständig utrikespolitik där respekt för folkrätten, de mänskliga rättigheterna och kvinnors frigörelse är vägledande, och pekar ut reaktionära regimer som med brutalt våld upprätthåller kvinnoförtryck. Utökade sanktioner mot revolutionsgardets och regimens företrädare är ett sätt att öka trycket i den riktningen. Planen ger däremot inget stöd för terroristlistning som verktyg och säger inget om sanktioner mot anhöriga.
- human rights-driven foreign policydecisive»Sverige ska föra en självständig utrikespolitik där demokrati, respekt för folkrätten och de mänskliga rättigheterna« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall pursue an independent foreign policy where democracy, respect for international law and human rights”
- against women-oppressing regimes»rörelser som öppet förnekar kvinnors och hbtq-personers mänskliga« (party programme ↗)“movements that openly deny women's and LGBTQ people's human”
- support democratisation»Vi verkar för en demokratisering av alla samhällen« (party programme ↗)“We work for democratisation of all societies”
- against terrorist designation»avvisar en särskild terroristlagstiftning« (party programme ↗)“rejects special terrorism legislation”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan commits Sweden to driving forward human rights and a rules-based world order, and the party programme refuses to accept that any power violates human rights.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan commits Sweden to driving forward human rights and a rules-based world order, and the party programme refuses to accept that any power violates human rights. Repression against demonstrators and attacks on women's rights thus strike the plan's core commitments, as does concern about nuclear weapons development. Extended EU sanctions against regime representatives are therefore supported in substance.
Original (Swedish)
Planen förbinder Sverige att driva på för mänskliga rättigheter och en regelbaserad världsordning, och partiprogrammet vägrar acceptera att någon makt kränker de mänskliga rättigheterna. Repressionen mot demonstranter och angreppen på kvinnors rättigheter träffar därmed planens kärnåtaganden, liksom oron för kärnvapenutveckling. Utökade EU-sanktioner mot regimföreträdare stöds därför i sak.
- drive human rightsdecisive»Vi kommer att fortsätta arbetet för att öka respekten för de mänskliga rättigheterna, demokratin och en regelbaserad världsordning och global säkerhet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We will continue working to increase respect for human rights, democracy and a rules-based world order and global security.”
- no violations accepted»Socialdemokratin vägrar acceptera att någon makt på grund av politiska eller ekonomiska« (party programme ↗)“Social Democracy refuses to accept that any power on political or economic”
- women's rights globally»Vi socialdemokrater står upp för alla kvinnors rätt att bestämma över sin egen kropp.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We social democrats stand up for all women's right to decide over their own bodies.”
- against nuclear proliferation»Vi fördömer allt hot om användning av kärnvapen och fortsätter verka för det enda rimliga slutmålet: en värld fri från kärnvapen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We condemn all threats of use of nuclear weapons and continue working for the only reasonable end goal: a world free from nuclear weapons.”
The plan places international law and human rights at the centre of foreign policy and demands that the sanctions system against human rights violations be developed.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan places international law and human rights at the centre of foreign policy and demands that the sanctions system against human rights violations be developed. Extended sanctions against representatives of a regime that exercises extensive repression against peaceful demonstrators follow from that commitment, as do the demands that Sweden works for human rights internationally. The plan's feminist foreign policy reinforces the conclusion given the repression against women in Iran.
Original (Swedish)
Planen sätter folkrätten och de mänskliga rättigheterna i centrum för utrikespolitiken och kräver att sanktionssystemet mot brott mot mänskliga rättigheter utvecklas. Utökade sanktioner mot företrädare för en regim som utövar omfattande repression mot fredliga demonstranter följer av det åtagandet, liksom av kravet att Sverige ska arbeta för mänskliga rättigheter internationellt. Planens feministiska utrikespolitik förstärker slutsatsen med tanke på repressionen mot kvinnor i Iran.
- developed human rights sanctionsdecisive»unionen, och sanktionssystemet behöver utvecklas.« (party programme ↗)“the union, and the sanctions system needs to be developed.”
- international law and human rights at the centre»Miljöpartiet de gröna sätter folkrätten och de« (party programme ↗)“The Greens place international law and”
- human rights work internationally»mänskliga rättigheter nationellt och internationellt.« (party programme ↗)“human rights nationally and internationally.”
- feminist foreign policy»utveckla och förstärka Sveriges feministiska utrikes- och utvecklingspolitik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“develop and strengthen Sweden's feminist foreign and development policy.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan establishes that foreign policy ultimately aims to protect universal human rights and freedoms and that we cannot compromise with ideals when a large part of the world's population lives in oppression.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that foreign policy ultimately aims to protect universal human rights and freedoms and that we cannot compromise with ideals when a large part of the world's population lives in oppression. Extended EU sanctions against regime representatives responsible for repression in Iran are a means in the struggle against authoritarian forces the plan says we must win. The plan does not mention sanctions against Iran in particular.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att utrikespolitiken ytterst syftar till att värna universella mänskliga fri- och rättigheter och att vi inte får kompromissa med idealen när en stor del av världens befolkning lever i förtryck. Utökade EU-sanktioner mot regimföreträdare som står bakom repressionen i Iran är ett medel i den kamp mot auktoritära krafter planen säger att vi måste vinna. Planen nämner inte sanktioner mot Iran särskilt.
- HR as goal for foreign policydecisive»Utrikes- och säkerhetspolitiken syftar ytterst till att värna universella mänskliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Foreign and security policy ultimately aims to protect universal human rights and freedoms.”
- stand up against oppression»Vi lever i en tid då diktaturerna och dess företrädare retirerar, men där en stor del av världens befolkning fortfarande lever i förtryck.« (party programme ↗)“We live in a time when dictatorships and their representatives are retreating, but where a large part of the world's population still lives in oppression.”
- struggle against authoritarian forces»Runtom i världen pågår en kamp mellan anhängare av den liberala demokratin och auktoritära krafter. Den måste vi vinna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Around the world a struggle is taking place between supporters of liberal democracy and authoritarian forces. We must win that struggle.”
- cooperation within the UN and EU»Dagens internationella ekonomiska beroende ökar betydelsen av fredsinsatser, samarbete och dialog.« (party programme ↗)“Today's international economic interdependence increases the importance of peace operations, cooperation and dialogue.”
Worldstate weighed in: The regime's extensive repression of demonstrators in Iran — Actualizes the plan's commitment to stand up for the oppressed and tightens the requirement for pressure
The plan wants Sweden to do much more, both individually and within international cooperation, for freedom and rights and wants foreign policy to be explicitly guided by values.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants Sweden to do much more, both individually and within international cooperation, for freedom and rights and wants foreign policy to be explicitly guided by values. It also wants Sweden to be a voice for those working toward democratization of the world's dictatorships and be a driver for comprehensive sanctions regimes against those who threaten the security order. Expanded EU sanctions against Iranian regime representatives follow from these commitments, even though Iran is not named.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att Sverige gör mycket mer, både enskilt och inom internationella samarbeten, för fri- och rättigheter och att utrikespolitiken uttalat styrs av värderingar. Den vill också att Sverige är en röst för dem som verkar för demokratisering av världens diktaturer och är pådrivande för heltäckande sanktionsregimer mot dem som hotar säkerhetsordningen. Utökade EU-sanktioner mot iranska regimföreträdare följer av dessa åtaganden, även om Iran inte nämns.
- active rights diplomacydecisive»Därför vill vi att Sverige gör mycket mer, både som enskilt land och inom internationella samarbeten, för fri- och rättigheter, frihandel, fria val och samarbete i den fria världen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore we want Sweden to do much more, both as a single country and within international cooperation, for freedom and rights, free trade, free choice and cooperation in the free world.”
- support for democratic forces»Sverige ska vara en röst för global frihet och ge stöd åt de modiga människor som verkar för demokratisering« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a voice for global freedom and support the brave people working toward democratization”
- driving force for sanctions»Sverige ska vara pådrivande för att så breda globala koalitioner som möjligt bygger ut en så heltäckande sanktionsregim mot Ryssland som möjligt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall be a driver for the broadest possible global coalitions to build out as comprehensive a sanctions regime against Russia as possible.”
- accountability for rights violations»Internationella brottmålsdomstolens roll för att lagföra brott mot mänskliga rättigheter ska stärkas.« (party programme ↗)“The International Criminal Court's role for prosecuting crimes against human rights shall be strengthened.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan makes work for human rights a main goal of foreign policy and explicitly allows boycott and sanctions as a last resort when positive measures are not sufficient.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan makes work for human rights a main goal of foreign policy and explicitly allows boycott and sanctions as a last resort when positive measures are not sufficient. Extensive repression with mass arrests, torture and deaths is such a situation, which supports expanded sanctions against regime representatives.
Original (Swedish)
Planen gör arbetet för mänskliga rättigheter till ett huvudmål för utrikespolitiken och tillåter uttryckligen bojkott och sanktioner som sista utväg när positiva medel inte räcker. Omfattande repression med massarresteringar, tortyr och dödsfall är ett sådant läge, vilket talar för utökade sanktioner mot regimföreträdare.
- HR as a foreign policy goaldecisive»Människovärdet ska stå i fokus och arbetet för att skydda och värna mänskliga fri- och rättigheter« (party programme ↗)“Human dignity shall be in focus and the work to protect and safeguard human freedoms and rights”
- sanctions as a last resort»positiva verkningsmedel användas, som till exempel finansiellt stöd, samarbetsprojekt, samtal och dialoger för att främja mänskliga rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“positive means are used, such as for example financial support, cooperation projects, discussions and dialogues to promote human rights.”
- bilateral HR dialogue»En dialog om mänskliga rättigheter bör även föras« (party programme ↗)“A dialogue on human rights should also be conducted”
- resist terrorism»möta angrepp från internationell kriminalitet, terrorism, cyberkrigföring« (party programme ↗)“meet attacks from international crime, terrorism, cyber warfare”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The programme establishes that Sweden shall be a strong voice for freedom, democracy and human rights and have the ability to stand up to other countries' aggressive power plays, and the plan wants EU to focus on security.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The programme establishes that Sweden shall be a strong voice for freedom, democracy and human rights and have the ability to stand up to other countries' aggressive power plays, and the plan wants EU to focus on security. Extended sanctions against the Revolutionary Guard and regime representatives are such pressure on a repressive regime. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's demands in substance, even though specific sanctions measures are not mentioned.
Original (Swedish)
Programmet slår fast att Sverige ska vara en stark röst för frihet, demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter och ha förmågan att stå emot andra länders aggressiva maktspråk, och planen vill att EU fokuserar på säkerhet. Utökade sanktioner mot revolutionsgardets och regimens företrädare är ett sådant tryck mot en repressiv regim. Planen stöder därför motförslagets krav i sak, även om enskilda sanktionsåtgärder inte nämns.
- strong voice for human rightsdecisive»Sverige ska vara en stark röst för frihet, demokrati och« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a strong voice for freedom, democracy and”
- stand up to authoritarian regimes»att stå emot andra länders aggressiva maktspråk.« (party programme ↗)“to stand up to other countries' aggressive power plays.”
- EU cooperation on security»EU:s fokus ska ligga på att lösa problem som Sverige inte kan hantera ensamt, till exempel handel, klimat, migration och säkerhet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“EU's focus shall be on solving problems that Sweden cannot handle alone, for example trade, climate, migration and security.”
- democracy and HR prioritised»Prioritera insatser som stödjer arbetet för demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prioritise efforts that support work for democracy and human rights”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto wants Sweden to work for clear sanctions against countries with negative development and identifies authoritarian and theocratic tendencies near Europe as real threats to Swedish society.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants Sweden to work for clear sanctions against countries with negative development and identifies authoritarian and theocratic tendencies near Europe as real threats to Swedish society. The plan also commits to combating international terrorism and Islamism and for Sweden to be a clear voice for human freedom and rights. Expanded EU sanctions against the Revolutionary Guards and regime representatives thus follow the plan's line.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill att Sverige verkar för tydliga sanktioner mot länder med en negativ utveckling och pekar ut auktoritära och teokratiska tendenser i Europas närhet som reella hot mot det svenska samhället. Planen åtar sig också att bekämpa internationell terrorism och islamism och att Sverige ska vara en tydlig röst för mänskliga fri- och rättigheter. Utökade EU-sanktioner mot revolutionsgardet och regimföreträdare följer därmed planens linje.
- sanctions against repressive statesdecisive»Sverige bör verka för tydliga sanktioner mot Turkiet, Belarus, Ryssland och andra länder med en negativ utveckling.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should work for clear sanctions against Turkey, Belarus, Russia and other countries with negative development.”
- theocratic threats to Sweden»Auktoritära och teokratiska tendenser i eller i närheten av Europa är redan idag reella hot mot det svenska samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Authoritarian and theocratic tendencies in or near Europe are already real threats to Swedish society.”
- combat Islamism»Bekämpa internationell terrorism och islamism« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Combat international terrorism and Islamism”
- voice for human rights»Vara en tydlig röst för den västerländska demokratimodellen och mänskliga fri- och rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Be a clear voice for the Western model of democracy and human freedom and rights”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:UU10)
- Committee report full text (HA01UU10)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1288 — Lagstiftning om ekocid av Anna Vikström och Mathias Tegnér (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1366 — En ny svensk Israelpolitik av Mikael Oscarsson och Magnus Oscarsson (båda KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1455 — Fred i Palestina av Jacob Risberg och Bassem Nasr (båda MP)
- Motion 2022/23:1615 — Belarus av Martin Ådahl (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1744 — Kuba av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1749 — Sverigedemokraternas biståndspolitik av Mats Nordberg m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1752 — Demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter i utrikespolitiken av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1764 — Säkerhetspolitik av Aron Emilsson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1769 — Mellanöstern av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1804 — Balkankonferens för handel och försoning av Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1879 — En fokuserad utvecklingsagenda bortom 2030 av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1882 — En starkare liberal demokrati av Malin Björk m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1960 — Ekocid som brott vid ICC i Haag av Gunilla Carlsson (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1965 — Åtgärder mot regimen i Iran av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2040 — Omprövning av Iranpolitiken av Azadeh Rojhan m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2048 — Skärpning av EU:s sanktioner mot regimen i Belarus av Mikael Oscarsson (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:2247 — Iran av Alireza Akhondi och Martin Ådahl (båda C)
- Motion 2022/23:2278 — Initiativ till ekocidlagstiftning av Rebecka Le Moine (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:2364 — med anledning av skr. 2022/23:115 Verksamheten i Europeiska unionen under 2022 av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:53 — Hbtqi-frågor i världen av Lotta Johnsson Fornarve m.fl. (V)
Source: The Swedish Parliament