Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) EU foreign ministers discussed the bloc’s approach to Iran, with some calling for sanctions if the country is involved in the Ukraine war.
Ukraine reported in recent weeks that Russia attacked targets with Iranian Shahed 136 drones, while Tehran denies supplying Moscow with drones, according to Reuters reporting on Monday.
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, announced before the start of the meeting in Luxembourg that the EU plans to look into Ukraine’s accusations. He added that Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba will attend the meeting.
According to two EU diplomats involved in the talks, the bloc could impose additional sanctions against Tehran if Ukraine’s accusations are true, but stressed that it would take time to reach an agreement on the matter.
Jeppe Kofod, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, announced a strong EU response to recent air attacks on Kiev.
EU response announced
“What we can see now: Iranian drones are used apparently to attack in the middle of Kiev… this is an atrocity,” he stressed and added that the EU would respond to the incident as well as the crackdown on protests in Iran.
The EU previously announced sanctions against roughly 15 Iranians involved in the crackdown on protests that started in September over the death of a 22-year-old woman in police custody.
France and Germany stressed the importance of imposing sanctions over the drone incident, pointing out that sale of drones to Russia violates UN Security Council’s resolution.
Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg, announced that additional EU sanctions will not stop at blacklisting of those involved in the crackdown if Iran’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine is proven.
“Then it will be no longer about some individuals to be sanctioned,” he stressed before the meeting of foreign ministers.Borrell noted that he does not expect any progress in talks to revive the nuclear deal with Iran. “I don’t expect any move, that’s a pity because we were very, very close,” he pointed out and reminded that negotiations with Tehran were stalled in recent weeks.
