Iran sanctions and military aid: The EU is tightening the thumbscrews

The EU foreign ministers do not want to leave the execution of a demonstrator in Iran unanswered. They imposed sanctions on 20 people from the top ranks of the regime. Military aid to Ukraine is to be increased.

The renewed execution of a regime opponent in Iran has caused horror and outrage in the European Union. In a joint statement, the EU foreign ministers condemned the executions in the strongest possible terms and called on the leadership in Tehran to stop the cruel crackdown on peaceful demonstrators immediately.

The German head of foreign affairs, Annalena Baerbock, spoke of “incredible crimes”. These executions are “a blatant attempt at intimidation just because people are taking their opinions to the streets, just because they want to live in freedom like us.”

“On a collision course with the West”

In response to the escalating violence in Iran, the EU tightens the thumbscrews again. Around 20 other leading representatives of the regime in Tehran and one organization are subject to sanctions. Entry bans apply to them and their accounts in the EU are frozen.

According to EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell, the new sanctions are aimed specifically at those responsible for the executions, for the brutal crackdown on protests and for supplying combat drones to the government in Russia.

“We have a government in Iran that is obviously on a collision course. On a collision course with the West and with its own people,” said Austria’s Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. The EU cannot look the other way when thousands of people are arbitrarily arrested, the second death penalty is carried out, dozens face the threat of the death penalty and Iran becomes an accomplice to Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine.

Lithuania insists on further deliveries

The eastern EU states in particular renewed their call for further support for Ukraine. Lithuania’s chief diplomat Gabrielius Landsbergis said his country’s stance had not changed. “There must be new Russia sanctions and more arms deliveries for Ukraine, especially heavy weapons, so that the Ukrainian army can retake the occupied territories.”

The European Peace Fund is to provide Ukraine with an additional two billion euros for arms purchases in the coming year, and then another 3.5 billion in subsequent years. This at least provides for an agreement in principle between the ministers. Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Andre Stancik warned earlier this morning that support for Ukraine would not slacken. “Because then everything the EU has done so far would have been in vain – and Russia would win the war.”

In the morning, the EU foreign ministers met with representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Brussels wants to help the countries of the so-called “Eastern Partnership” to better protect themselves against pressure and influence from Russia.

Baerbock: “Incredible event”

On the fringes of their conference, the ministers also dealt with the corruption scandal in the European Parliament. The EU foreign policy chief Borrell said it was extremely worrying that a third country had tried to steer political decisions in Europe in its favor with money and expensive gifts. For Foreign Minister Baerbock, too, this is an “incredible event”.

“It must now be clarified without ifs and buts – with the full force of the law. Because this is also and especially about Europe’s credibility,” she said. Accordingly, consequences would then have to follow in different areas. “Now it’s all about complete clarification. But we haven’t experienced anything like that for a long time.” Or maybe never.