Kanani's Warning: We Will Respond Seriously to Any New Sanctions

The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry warned on Monday that any new sanctions against the Islamic Republic would face a "serious, proportional, and balanced response" from Tehran. Nasser Kanani accused Britain, France, and Germany of "pretexting" and "accusations," claiming that the three European states party to the JCPOA have avoided fulfilling their commitments under this agreement. He described U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic as "illegal" and a "violation of human rights," adding that Britain, France, and Germany have fallen short just like the United States and must be held accountable for their shortcomings. The spokesperson's remarks were in response to reports regarding the European Troika's efforts to maintain the EU's "ballistic missile sanctions" against Iran, which are set to expire in October. The EU's goal is to de-escalate tensions and find a way to revive nuclear limitations, but Iran's refusal to discuss this issue and its advancement of nuclear and missile programs—despite previous Western sanctions—indicates a lack of trust. While maintaining sanctions requires the approval of all 27 EU member states, the decision not to implement the "snapback" clause—which reinstates all previously lifted sanctions—poses a threat that was previously reflected in a letter to the Islamic Republic last year. This letter warned that if Iran enriches uranium to weapons-grade levels, "snapback" will be triggered. Although the EU's decision to maintain sanctions does not replace UN provisions, it reflects the reality that the 2015 nuclear agreement no longer exists in its original form. On the other hand, the crackdown on protesters following the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, along with the Islamic Republic's military cooperation, especially in drone technology after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has led Western countries to impose several sanction packages against individuals and entities responsible in the Islamic Republic. The three European countries have warned the Islamic Republic on the brink of the expiration of missile sanctions in October.