EU Supports Expansion of Sanctions Against the Islamic Republic; Focus on Missile and Drone Industries

At the end of their meeting in Brussels, European Union leaders expressed support for imposing further sanctions on the Iranian government in response to its unprecedented attack on Israel. The leaders of the 27 member countries issued a statement on Wednesday, declaring that "the European Union will adopt further restrictive measures against Iran, particularly concerning drones and missiles." French President Emmanuel Macron had previously stated his support for expanding sanctions, saying, "We advocate for sanctions that target all those involved in the production of drones and missiles used in last week's attacks." Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also stated before the recent G7 discussions that "sanctions should be applied against all entities that attack Israel with drones and missiles, as well as vessels in the Red Sea." While Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that this direct attack by the Islamic Republic will be retaliated against, the EU has expressed its readiness to increase sanctions on Tehran while urging Israel to exercise restraint. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, earlier on Wednesday referred to the policies of Tehran, Moscow, and Pyongyang, stating that the Islamic Republic's attack on Israel is the latest sign of the efforts of a "new alliance of authoritarian regimes." According to Reuters, she emphasized at a defense and security conference in Brussels that this alliance seeks to dismantle the international rules-based order and bring democracies to the brink of collapse. The EU's foreign policy chief stated on Tuesday after an emergency video conference of EU foreign ministers that the bloc is considering expanding sanctions against the Islamic Republic in response to Tehran's attack on Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz welcomed the approach of Israel's Western supporters towards the Iranian government, noting that there is a "positive trend" towards the approval of new sanctions against the Islamic Republic's missile program and its proxy forces in the Middle East. The White House previously announced that it is working with the G7 and other allies to design a comprehensive response to the Islamic Republic, including new sanctions against Tehran's missile and drone programs, along with additional sanctions against entities supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Ministry of Defense. Concurrent with the EU leaders' meeting, France called for the expansion of sanctions against the Islamic Republic, considering the consequences of the attack on Israel. The EU is examining the intensification of sanctions against the Islamic Republic, and the President of the European Commission stated that the Islamic Republic's attack on Israel is a sign of a new alliance of authoritarian regimes. The U.S. has indicated that decisions regarding how to respond to the Islamic Republic's attacks will be made in coordination with Israel. Israel welcomed the EU's action to impose further sanctions against the IRGC and the Islamic Republic. Following the emergency meeting in Brussels, the EU initiated plans to expand sanctions against the Islamic Republic.