France Urges the European Union to Impose New Sanctions on Iran's Missile Program

On Monday, March 19, Jean-Yves Le Drian emphasized the importance of maintaining the JCPOA while urging the European Union to impose sanctions on Iran's missile program and its actions in the Middle East. The French Foreign Minister stated to reporters just before attending the EU Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels, "We have an absolute commitment to ensure compliance with the Vienna agreement. We must act with strength on this issue." He also stressed, "However, we should not exclude Iran's responsibility for the proliferation of ballistic missiles and its very questionable role throughout the Middle East." According to a U.S. congressional resolution, the President must sign the suspension of sanctions every three months; however, Donald Trump, who calls the JCPOA the 'worst deal ever,' has warned European countries that if the 'catastrophic flaws of this agreement' are not resolved by the next deadline on May 12, he will not sign the suspension of sanctions. According to Reuters, the efforts of France, Britain, and Germany to impose sanctions against Iran's missile program and its role in the region aim to persuade the U.S. government to remain in the JCPOA. Didier Reynders, the Belgian Foreign Minister, also supported the imposition of new sanctions against Iran during the EU Foreign Ministers' meeting, stating, "We hope to pressure Iran regarding ballistic missiles and its role in Middle Eastern crises." The European Union has not imposed any sanctions against Iran since the nuclear agreement was signed in July 2015. The approval of new sanctions also requires the consent of all 28 member states of the Union. Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, has emphasized that the Union does not yet have an official position on new sanctions against Iran. However, according to Reuters, several foreign ministers present in Brussels hinted that discussions are ongoing among members regarding the imposition of new sanctions against Iran. Didier Reynders told reporters, "We must discuss all possible measures, just as we did in the nuclear case." Hours after the news of the French Foreign Minister's statements at the Brussels meeting, Iran described these remarks as 'incomprehensible and unreasonable.' Bahram Qasemi, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, stated in an interview with Fars News Agency that 'we do not put our defensive issues on the negotiating table with others,' adding that the French Foreign Minister's remarks 'seem incomprehensible and largely strange and unreasonable after his visit to Tehran.' Two weeks prior, Jean-Yves Le Drian had met with several officials of the Islamic Republic during his visit to Tehran. He had emphasized hours before his trip in an interview with a French weekly that Iran's missile program is contrary to UN Security Council resolutions and 'if this issue is not resolved, Iran will face the risk of new sanctions.' Bahram Qasemi also stated regarding Iran's actions in the region that 'there is no hidden or suspicious issue in Iran's policies in the region.' In recent weeks, several European countries have called for the Islamic Republic to adhere to the ceasefire in Syria and to pressure its ally, Bashar al-Assad, to respect this ceasefire, citing Iran's actions in the region, particularly in Syria.