Attacks on Israel

Baerbock wants new EU sanctions against Iran

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg(Bild: AP)

Iran must expect new EU sanctions following its missile and drone attacks against Israel. EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell announced on Tuesday evening that he would ask his team to prepare further punitive measures. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) stated that he expected a clear majority in favor of sanctions.

The EU must "take a clear position: On the one hand de-escalating, on the other drawing clear lines", Schallenberg said.

Nuclear weapons, human rights violations, Russia supporters
The EU has already imposed various sanctions against Iran due to Iranian activities to develop nuclear weapons, human rights violations and military support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. According to EU diplomats, sanctions against missiles and drones produced in Iran and used in the region are now on the table.

Israel should not allow itself to be provoked. They have basically won the day.

Außenminister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP)

Bild: AP

"Avoid conflagration"
 Schallenberg calls for a "clear reaction from the international community towards Iran": if a red line is crossed, there must be consequences. He therefore also advocates an extension of the sanctions regime: "I don't see why deliveries of missiles to proxies (allies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon or Houthis in Yemen, note) are not covered by the sanctions regime. But our goal must be to avoid a conflagration."

Iran attacked Israel with 3400 missiles and threats
He had held telephone conversations with his counterparts in the region, including Iran's, and urged Iran to exert influence on the proxies. Israel, on the other hand, should not allow itself to be provoked, as they "have basically won the day: They have been able to fend off 99 percent of the (Iranian, note) missiles," Schallenberg emphasized. The Iranian army attacked Israeli targets with around 300 missiles and drones on Saturday. According to the Israeli military, it successfully repelled the attack. Israel had the support of the USA, Great Britain, France and Jordan.

Most of the drones and missiles were repelled by Israeli air defenses.(Bild: APA/AFP/AFPTV)

Borrell: "Prevent escalation"
Borrell said there was agreement that further escalation must be prevented. He therefore called on all parties involved to exercise restraint. "The region is on the edge of the abyss," emphasized Borrell. We must now move away from it. If attack follows counter-attack and the intensity continues to increase, we will end up with a real war. The war in the Gaza Strip would then not end either.

In response to calls for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards to be classified as a terrorist organization, Borrell explained that the elite unit of the Iranian armed forces would first have to be prosecuted by a national authority for terrorist activities under EU law. However, this has not yet been the case.

Borrell did not say in the evening when the planned new Iran sanctions could come into force. He merely pointed out that there will be another regular meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg next Monday.