European Union (EU) leaders have unanimously agreed to impose fresh sanctions on Iran’s manufacturers of drones and missiles following Tehran’s unprecedented assault on Israel over the weekend, announced EU chief Charles Michel.
“We have decided to impose sanctions against Iran; it is a clear signal that we wanted to send,” stated the European Council president during an EU summit held in Brussels.
“The idea is to target the companies that are needed for the drones, for the missiles,” the European Council president added.
The attack, marking Tehran’s first-ever direct assault on Israeli territory, came in response to an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, resulting in the deaths of seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members, including two generals.
In response to the attack, Israel has indicated its intention to retaliate, though the method remains undisclosed. However, the EU leaders emphasized that all parties should refrain from actions that could exacerbate regional tensions.
The decision to impose new sanctions was made during a two-day summit in Brussels, marking the first gathering of the EU’s 27 national leaders since the weekend’s attack, which occurred amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hamas.
“We have to adjust, to expand (the sanctions) on Iran,” stated French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the summit.
“We are in favor of sanctions that can also target all those who help manufacture drones and missiles that were used in the attacks last Saturday and Sunday,” Macron added.
Furthermore, Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, ahead of G-7 discussions on the island of Capri, advocated for sanctions against those involved in providing drones, weapons, and missiles to attackers targeting Israel and vessels in the Red Sea.
Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU’s executive commission, characterized Iran’s attack as evidence of a “new league of authoritarians” seeking to disrupt the international order and undermine democracies.
The EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, confirmed preparations to tighten sanctions against Iran. EU foreign ministers are set to continue their efforts next Monday.
While some EU member states have proposed sanctions against Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, Borrell clarified such measures could only be implemented if a national authority within the EU determined the group’s involvement in terrorist activities.
The United States and other Western nations view the imposition of new economic sanctions against Iran as a means to encourage Israel to limit the extent of its retaliatory actions.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz expressed appreciation for the EU leaders’ decision to sanction Iran’s drone and missile producers in response to the attack on Israel.
“I congratulate the EU countries on the decision to impose sanctions on Iran,” Katz remarked, adding: “This is an important step to defang the snake – and thanks to all our friends for their support and assistance. Iran must be stopped now before it is too late.”
Source: Newsroom
