The U.S. Urges Europe to Impose Sanctions on Iran Due to Ballistic Missile Program

On Monday, December 3rd, the U.S. government called on European countries to impose new and severe sanctions against Iran due to its missile programs. This request comes as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is set to meet with European officials in Brussels in the coming days. Recently, the U.S. and several other countries, including France, condemned Iran's recent missile test. According to the Associated Press, Iran is expected to be a significant topic in Pompeo's negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will meet in Brussels on Monday night. France described Iran's missile test as provocative and destabilizing. Pompeo is scheduled to hold separate discussions with the foreign ministers of Britain, Germany, and France on Tuesday during the NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. Meanwhile, Brian Hook, the U.S. Special Representative for Iran, rejected the Iranian government's assertion that its missile programs are defensive. Hook, who is traveling with Pompeo to Brussels, told reporters that the continuation of Iran's missile programs and tests poses a threat to the Middle East and beyond and violates UN Security Council resolutions. He added that negotiations between the U.S. and European powers regarding Iran's missile activities are progressing, aiming to penalize companies and individuals involved in Iran's missile programs. Hook stated, "This is a serious and growing threat, and all countries in the world, not just Europeans, must take all possible actions to counter Iran's missile programs." The Associated Press notes that Hook's remarks are the latest in a series of harsh comments from U.S. officials against Iran since Donald Trump's withdrawal from the JCPOA in May of this year. He accused Iran of violating the UN arms embargo by supplying weapons to its affiliated forces in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. Pompeo also condemned Iran's latest missile test on Saturday, stating that the medium-range missile is capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and could target parts of Europe. Pompeo warned, "If we cannot contain these actions, the likelihood of escalating tensions and conflict in the region will increase."