The Outcome of Military Cooperation with the Russians; Europe Determined to Continue 'Ballistic Missile Sanctions' Against the Islamic Republic

According to a European official, EU countries are 'determined' to continue 'imposing' ballistic missile sanctions against the Islamic Republic, which were set to expire in October. Reuters reports that despite the goal of resuming negotiations on the JCPOA, which is officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, this 'European official' believes there is still an opportunity for negotiations regarding the nuclear agreement and reducing tensions with the Islamic Republic by the end of 2023. According to the report, in June, amid ongoing concerns, informed sources told Reuters that there are three reasons for continuing the sanctions: 'Russia's use of Islamic Republic drones against Ukraine', 'the possibility of transferring ballistic missiles from the Islamic Republic to Russia', and 'depriving Iran of the benefits of the nuclear agreement' despite the Islamic Republic having 'violated' this agreement. Recently, Voice of America reported that European diplomats have informed the Islamic Republic that they are determined to maintain the EU's 'ballistic missile sanctions', which were set to expire in October. According to this report, Europe intends to prevent the production of nuclear weapons and their delivery systems by the Islamic Republic 'by maintaining sanctions', despite the collapse of the nuclear agreement from which the United States withdrew in 2018. Earlier, a Republican member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee reacted to 'sanctions on individuals and entities related to the Islamic Republic's missile program' in a tweet. Senator Jim Risch, recalling that the bans on Iran's ballistic missiles will expire in October of this year, stated: 'We are approaching another dangerous sunset of the JCPOA.'