The European Council has prolonged its sanctions on Iran for another year, attributing the decision to Tehran’s military activities both regionally and globally.
The Council announced on Monday that the restrictive measures, extended until 27 July 2025, are due to Iran’s military support for Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and for armed groups in the Middle East and the Red Sea region.
Tehran has been supplying Russia with weapons, including Shahed drones, used in the war on Ukraine.
In March, the European Council urged third parties, including Iran, to immediately stop providing material support to Russia, although Iran denies doing so.
In April, the Council reiterated its commitment to further sanctions against Iran, focusing on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles.
On May 14, the Council expanded EU sanctions to cover drones, missiles, and Iran’s support for armed groups in the Middle East and the Red Sea region.
Since November, Iran’s Houthi group has blockaded the Red Sea, affecting global shipping.
Currently, the sanctions apply to 12 individuals and nine entities, involving asset freezes and prohibitions on providing funds or economic resources. Additionally, the listed individuals face a travel ban to the EU.
The Kremlin warned that deploying US missiles in Germany could make European capitals targets for Russian missiles, echoing a Cold War-style confrontation.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted a “paradox” where “Europe is a target for our missiles, and our country is a target for US missiles in Europe.” Speaking on Russia 1, Peskov stated that while Russia has the capacity to contain these missiles, the potential victims would be the capitals of European countries.
Peskov suggested that such a confrontation could undermine Europe, similar to how the Cold War led to the Soviet Union’s collapse. He remarked that “Europe is coming apart” and a repeat of history is inevitable in a different configuration.
