Europe Considers Sanctions Against Iran Over Missile Test

Following the U.S. action to sanction several individuals and entities related to the "Emad" ballistic missile test, Laurent Fabius, the French Foreign Minister, stated that the European Union will also review this matter this week. According to Reuters, Fabius said during a visit to Abu Dhabi on Monday, January 18, that "to make a decision on this matter, we need to compare the systems of the U.S. and the EU to see if new sanctions are necessary, and this will be done this week." The Obama administration announced on Sunday, just hours after the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement (JCPOA) and the lifting of sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program, that it had added 11 new individuals and entities to the sanctions list in response to the "Emad" ballistic missile test. Iran had announced last October that it had successfully tested this long-range missile. Following that, the UN sanctions committee on Iran deemed the missile launch a violation of Security Council Resolution 1929, and both the U.S. and the EU indicated they would consider imposing new sanctions in this regard. The Iranian Ministry of Defense argued at the time that the missile test did not violate the nuclear agreement and that Iran would continue its missile program. Regarding the new U.S. sanctions, the Iranian Foreign Ministry also issued a statement on Monday, January 18, calling them "lacking legal and moral legitimacy" and reiterated that "Iran's missile program is not designed for the capability to carry nuclear weapons and therefore does not contradict any international basis." Fabius's remarks about the EU reviewing this issue come as Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is set to make his first European trip after the lifting of sanctions, visiting Italy and then France in early February. According to Reuters, Fabius, who is scheduled to travel from Dubai to Riyadh and meet with King Salman and other officials on Tuesday, also mentioned France's willingness to reduce tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia. He added that various issues would be discussed during Rouhani's visit to Paris next week. In response to a question about whether the Syrian government's negotiations with its opponents will definitely take place on January 25, next week, he said he does not know yet and that this should be asked of the UN as the organizer. Fabius also emphasized that "for moderate opponents of Bashar al-Assad, participating in negotiations while being bombed at any moment is very difficult." The opponents of Bashar al-Assad are expected to hold another meeting in Riyadh in the coming days to make decisions in this regard.