EU says it will begin working to expand sanctions on Iran in wake of attack on Israel

By Reuters 16 April 2024, 9:03 pm

1 Edit

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell speaks during a press conference in Brussels, on April 8, 2024. (Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP)

Some EU member states have asked for sanctions against Iran to be expanded in response to Tehran’s attack on Israel and the bloc’s diplomatic service will begin working on the proposal, says EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

Borrell was speaking after an emergency video conference of EU foreign ministers called to discuss the repercussions of the attack.

“Some member states proposed… adopting an expansion of restrictive measures against Iran,” Borrell tells reporters. “I will send to the External Action Service the request to start the necessary work related to these sanctions.”

Borrell says the proposal will expand a sanctions regime that seeks to curb the supply of Iranian drones to Russia so that it would also include the provision of missiles and could also cover deliveries to proxies in the Middle East.