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EU leaders ‘politically’ agree to expand sanctions regime on Iran, targeting drones

By Selin Atay
Apr 23, 2024 1:27 PM

‘I want to insist that there is not going to be lasting stability in the region, as long as the war in Gaza continues,’ EU’s foreign policy chief emphasizes the dire situation in Gaza

Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, announced on Monday that EU leaders reached a “political agreement” to expand the drone sanctions regime on Iran.
 
“It is important to notice that we have reached a political agreement to enlarge and expand the existing drones (sanctions) regime to cover missiles and their potential transfer to Russia,” Borrell stated during a news conference following the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.

Drone sanction expands to whole Middle East, not only to Russia

“The existing drones’ regime to impose sanctions on Iran in to cover missiles and their potentials – for the time being, it has not happened – but their potential transfer to Russia. This includes the same system that we did for Russia. It includes missile production.

Secondly, it expands the geographical area of this framework to cover drones and missiles deliveries, not only to Russia, but to the whole region of the Middle East and the Red Sea. And thirdly, to expand the list of prohibited drone components,” Borrel explained. 

Iran’s FM calls EU sanctions ‘regrettable’

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian speaks during a joint press conference with Lebanon's caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib in Beirut
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian speaks during a press conference with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at the foreign ministry headquarters in Iran’s capital Tehran, June 25, 2022. (AFP)

European Union sanctions announced following Iran’s attack against Israel are “regrettable” because the country was acting in self-defense, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian stated. 

“It is regrettable to see the EU deciding quickly to apply more unlawful restrictions against Iran just because Iran exercised its right to self-defense in the face of Israel’s reckless aggression,” Amirabdollahian said on X before calling on the EU to apply sanctions on Israel instead.

‘No lasting stability in region as long as war in Gaza continues’

EU leaders 'politically' agree to expand sanctions regime on Iran, targeting drones
Palestinians inspect the debris after Israeli bombardment at Al-Daraj neighbourhood in Gaza City on April 22, 2024, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. (AFP)

Regarding the situation in Gaza, Borrell highlighted the lack of progress, stating, “So, the three things that we need – release of hostages, cease-fire, (and easing of the) humanitarian catastrophe – (I am) sorry to say, there is no progress in any of them – no significant progress.”

He further emphasized the obstruction of humanitarian support, stating, “It is clear that it is being hindered, he provided us with concrete examples. So, there is no easing of the humanitarian support, so the humanitarian catastrophe for the Palestinian people continues.”

Borrell added, “I want to insist that there is not going to be lasting stability in the region as long as the war in Gaza continues.”

Israel failed to back up its claims about UNRWA

Two people, carrying items on their heads, walk past a bullet-riddle concrete wall with three black and white images painted along the the top and, in the left corner, a blue United Nations logo with the Arabic letters above and the word UNRWA below.
UNRWA, the main agency helping Palestinian refugees, employs some 13,000 people in Gaza. (The Associated Press)

He also mentioned the Review Group report on Israeli allegations about the UNRWA, stating that they were waiting for it.

A report led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna revealed early Monday that Israel has not backed up claims about UNRWA staffers.

“Let’s hope that the study of the Catherine Colonna’s Review Group will allow everybody, and in particular, the funding coming from the European Commission, to go back to UNRWA,” Borrell said.

The claims that 12 of the agency’s employees directly took part in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas had led to a massive funding deficit for the as several donor countries announced cuts. Some countries later revised their decision and resumed funding to the agency amid a crippling humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave.

Source: Newsroom

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Last Updated:  May 31, 2024 8:26 PM