Relationship dossier
Iran
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Relationship assessment
Diplomatic confrontation over alleged Iranian activity in the Netherlands coexists with Dutch support for nuclear diplomacy.
Iran toward Kingdom of the Netherlands
-40Iran expelled Dutch diplomats in 2018 after the Netherlands expelled two Iranian diplomats amid allegations of Iranian involvement in killings in the Netherlands. This retaliatory step contributed to a period of serious diplomatic strain.
Kingdom of the Netherlands toward Iran
-30The Netherlands expelled two Iranian diplomats in 2018 amid allegations of Iranian involvement in killings on Dutch soil. The Dutch government has also supported the nuclear agreement with Iran, while disputes over Iran’s human rights record and nuclear programme have strained relations.
Overall relationship
-30The relationship has been shaped by diplomatic confrontation over allegations of Iranian activity in the Netherlands and by disagreements over human rights and Iran’s nuclear programme. Dutch support for the nuclear agreement provides a significant area of policy engagement, but does not remove the underlying sources of tension.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Relations between Iran and the Netherlands have faced serious strains over Dutch allegations of Iranian involvement in killings on Dutch soil, leading to diplomatic expulsions, alongside disputes over human rights and Iran’s nuclear programme. The Netherlands has also supported the nuclear agreement with Iran. These episodes show a relationship combining concrete diplomatic confrontation with limited areas of policy cooperation.
Areas of tension
- Dutch allegations of Iranian involvement in killings on Dutch soil
- Diplomatic expulsions in 2018
- Disagreements over Iran’s human rights record
- Disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme
Key developments
The Netherlands expelled two Iranian diplomats amid allegations of Iranian involvement in killings in the Netherlands; Iran subsequently expelled Dutch diplomats in retaliation.
The Netherlands supported the nuclear agreement with Iran.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and continuity of bilateral cooperation beyond nuclear diplomacy are unclear.
- Details of the implementation and subsequent effects of the diplomatic expulsions are unclear.