US: Europe's 18 Million Euro Aid to Iran Sends the Wrong Message

Brian Hook, the US Special Representative for Iran, criticized the European Union's decision to allocate an 18 million euro package for several development projects in Iran, stating that this action sends a "wrong message at the wrong time." In a statement, Hook said that foreign aid funded by European taxpayers allows the government to continue ignoring the needs of its people and obstructs pathways for meaningful policy changes. He emphasized that the Iranian people are facing severe economic pressures due to government corruption, mismanagement, and the regime's investment in terrorism and foreign conflicts. Hook asserted that the United States and the European Union should work together to find real solutions to support the Iranian people and end the regime's threats to regional and global stability. The European Commission approved its first package for "supporting sustainable economic and social development" in Iran, emphasizing the private sector, worth 18 million euros, which includes 8 million euros in aid to the private sector in Iran. This package is part of a larger 50 million euro initiative aimed at helping Iran address key economic and social challenges. This news comes after the US withdrew from the nuclear agreement with Iran on May 8 and the first round of sanctions against Iran was implemented on August 6, with the next round of oil sanctions set to take effect on November 4. Hook stated that more money in the hands of the Ayatollah means more money for carrying out terrorist operations in any European country. In this context, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also described the EU's action as "poisoning the Iranian people" and criticized the union. Meanwhile, the head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission described the EU's 18 million euro aid as "a positive but weak action." Bahram Qasemi, the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated that this budget is related to Iran's cooperation with the EU and is not connected to the economic package proposed by Europe, which is intended to counter US sanctions against Iran. According to Qasemi, this budget supports projects anticipated in a previous agreement made on April 16, 2016. However, with the re-imposition of US sanctions, most major European companies have ceased cooperation with Iran. Additionally, 16 Republican senators in the US have called on the Treasury Department to take "all necessary actions" to expel Iran from the SWIFT financial system.