14.4.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 100/51 DECISIONS COUNCIL DECISION 2011/235/CFSP of 12 April 2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof, Whereas: (1)  On 21 March 2011, the Council reiterated its deep concern about the deterioration of the human rights situation in [ran. (20 The Council underlined in particular the dramatic increase in executions in recent months and the systematic repression of Iranian citizens, who face harassment and arrests for exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The Union also reiterated its strong condemnation of the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. (3)  In this context, the Council reaffirmed its determination to continue to address human rights abuses in Iran and declared its readiness to introduce restrictive measures targeted against those responsible for grave human rights violations in Iran. (4)  The restrictive measures should target persons complicit in or responsible for directing or implementing grave human rights violations in the repression of peaceful demonstrators, journalists, human rights defenders, students or other persons who speak up in defence of their legitimate rights, including freedom of expression, as well as persons complicit in or responsible for directing or implementing; grave violations of the right to due process, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, or the indiscriminate, excessive and increasing application of the death penalty, including public executions, stoning, hangings or the execution of juvenile offenders in contravention of Iran’s international human rights obligations. (5)  Further action by the Union is needed in order to implement certain measures, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 1.  Member States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the entry into, or transit through, their territories of the persons responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran, and persons associated with them, as listed in the Annex. 2. Paragraph 1 shall not oblige a Member State to refuse its own nationals entry into its territory. 3. Paragraph 1 shall be without prejudice to the cases where a Member State is bound by an obligation of international law, namely: (@) as a host country to an international intergovernmental organisation; (b) as a host country to an international conference convened by, or under the auspices of, the United Nations; (c) under a multilateral agreement conferring privileges and immunities; or (d) under the 1929 Treaty of Conciliation (Lateran pact) concluded by the Holy See (State of the Vatican City) and Italy. 4. Paragraph 3 shall be considered as also applying in cases where a Member State is host country to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). 5. The Council shall be duly informed in all cases where a Member State grants an exemption pursuant to paragraph 3 or 4. 6. Member States may grant exemptions from the measures imposed under paragraph 1 where travel is justified on the grounds of urgent humanitarian need, or on grounds of attending  intergovernmental — meetings, including those promoted by the Union, or hosted by a Member State holding the Chairmanship in office of the OSCE, where a political dialogue is conducted that directly promotes democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Iran.