EU Decides to Impose More Sanctions Against Iran, Targeting Missile and Drone Production

Preventing large-scale Israeli retaliation is key
EU foreign ministers to discuss further on May 22

Leaders of the 27 European Union (EU) countries agreed on the 17th (local time) to strengthen sanctions against Iran, which attacked Israel.

EU member states attended a special EU summit in Brussels, Belgium, where they decided to tighten sanctions against Iran to prevent further escalation in the Middle East, Reuters reported. The meeting was seen as an opportunity for EU member states to condemn the Iranian attack and reaffirm their commitment to supporting Israel’s security.

Charles Michel, the EU Council President, explained, “We feel it’s essential to do everything to isolate Iran,” and “The new sanctions against Iran are targeting companies involved in drone and missile production.” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that “it’s important that Israel does not respond with a large-scale attack,” and Italy made a separate statement supporting sanctions against the arms suppliers related to the attack on Israel and those behind the ship attack in the Strait of Hormuz.

Some countries, including Germany and France, are reportedly considering expanding their existing plans to cut off Iranian-made drone supplies to Russia to block the supply of missiles to Iranian-backed militant groups such as Hezbollah. Belgium suggested the need to introduce sanctions against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

EU foreign ministers will hold a meeting on the 22nd to continue discussing additional sanctions against Iran. The United States and Western countries are actively participating in the additional sanctions against Iran, fearing that if Israel retaliates against Iran’s attack on Israel, in which Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles at Israel on the 13th, it could escalate into a Middle East war. The EU is implementing sanctions against Iran related to human rights abuses, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.