Radio Farda sources report EU's determination to sanction Iran Air

European sources told Radio Farda that the European Union will decide on Monday, October 15, regarding new sanctions against 14 individuals and entities linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran, including Iran Air. This new sanctions package has been prepared following the export of Iranian missiles to Russia. An European source told Radio Farda that this package has the green light from EU ambassadors and is expected to receive a positive vote in the meeting on Monday. After the United States, Britain, France, and Germany accused Iran of sending missiles to Russia over a month ago, the three European countries announced their plan to sanction Iran Air. At that time, the German Foreign Ministry told Radio Farda that work had begun to consult with European allies on this matter. Iran Air has direct flights to several cities in Europe, including Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, Paris, and Milan. A senior EU official also spoke to reporters on Friday about the October 15 meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council to be held in Luxembourg, stating that after the EU received evidence of missile shipments from Iran to Russia, Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. According to this senior official, it was 'interesting' that 'after months of denial,' Mr. Araghchi confirmed the shipment of missiles to Russia in this conversation, but claimed that the weapon was a 'short-range rocket of less than 250 kilometers' which he did not consider ballistic. This senior EU official, who requested anonymity, told reporters that the question here is what Iran received in return for these missiles from Russia. According to him, Iranian diplomats have stated that this exchange is 'merely a trade within the framework of military cooperation' between the two sides. Although it is unclear what Iran received from Russia in exchange for the missile shipment, this senior EU official stated, 'We have no evidence that Russia is providing any type of nuclear technology to Iran.' He further noted that Iran's move towards a military nuclear program is a subject for which neither Europeans nor the US currently have evidence. He also emphasized that Iran and the EU discussed the JCPOA in New York, and the Iranian side expressed a willingness to revive this agreement, stating, 'We will see if it can be done under the current conditions or not.' The possibility of new EU sanctions against the Islamic Republic is raised at a time when a few days ago, the senior spokesperson for EU foreign affairs told Radio Farda that he is 'optimistic' about the relationship between this entity and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Peter Stano also emphasized that the EU's relationship with the Islamic Republic has been at its lowest level for a long time. The latest reason is the support for Russia in its illegal aggression against Ukraine by supplying drones and even recently missiles. According to Mr. Stano, domestic repression in Iran, the arbitrary detention of EU citizens, and uranium enrichment are other factors that have caused the Islamic Republic's relationship with the EU to reach its current 'complex' and 'sensitive' state.