EU’s New Sanctions Against Iran and Their Objectives

According to diplomatic circles in Brussels, Der Spiegel revealed that the European Union is preparing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran. A message directed at both Tehran and Washington.

In the latest issue of Der Spiegel published on Saturday (January 20/December 30), it was revealed according to diplomatic circles in Brussels that Germany, France, and Britain are seeking to impose new sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The European Union wants to use these sanctions to counter destabilizing policies in the region by the Islamic Republic. According to Der Spiegel’s report, Iran supports Houthi rebels in the Yemen war and also supports Hezbollah militias in Lebanon. In the Syrian war, it backs Bashar al-Assad by sending military aid, and sends unmanned aircraft to Syria.

Der Spiegel adds that Germany is attempting to persuade European partners to impose new sanctions, on one hand targeting Iran’s missile program and showing that they are not indifferent to Iran’s policies, and on the other hand telling Donald Trump, the US President, that they take his criticisms of the JCPOA seriously.

However, the main objective of the European Union is to preserve the JCPOA, which was signed in 2015 by the P5+1 group and Iran. Trump considers this agreement “the worst agreement in the history of America” and has threatened to withdraw from it.

The US President has given European partners until mid-May 2018 to fix the “terrible flaws” of this agreement.

Preserving the JCPOA at Any Cost

In its report, Der Spiegel writes that the European Union wants to preserve the JCPOA agreement at any cost. Sigmar Gabriel, Germany’s Foreign Minister, in his latest meeting with Federica Mogherini and his British and French counterparts said, “If the West cancels the only nuclear agreement that works well, then it has sent unfortunate signals, for example, to North Korea.”

Mogherini also emphasized in this meeting, “The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that Iran has complied with all aspects of the agreement.”

Der Spiegel writes, “Europeans, by agreeing that the nuclear agreement should be separated from other disputes and disagreements with the Islamic Republic of Iran, have arrived at the idea that the goal of new sanctions should be Iran’s missile program.”

The magazine adds: “The European Union wants to use these sanctions to address Trump’s concerns and doubts, and also prevent damage to the JCPOA.”

Der Spiegel also recalled that Iran’s arms embargoes as well as sanctions related to human rights violations remain in full force.

Source: DW