The European Union’s foreign ministers have recently decided to expand existing sanctions on Iran’s drone and missile program, as confirmed by the bloc’s top diplomat on Monday. The new sanctions will now cover not only drone and missile deliveries to Russia but also to Iran's proxies in the region.
These sanctions will involve broadening the list of components that are prohibited from being exported from the EU and are commonly used in the production of drones and missiles. This move is aimed at curbing the proliferation of drone and missile technology to Iran and its allies in the Middle East.
The decision by the EU follows Iran’s recent attack on Israel, which was reportedly in response to a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic complex in Syria earlier in the month. The escalating tensions in the region have prompted international concern and led to a series of retaliatory actions.
In a related development, the United States also announced new sanctions last week targeting 16 individuals and two entities associated with Iran’s drone program. The coordinated efforts by the EU and the US reflect a growing consensus among Western nations regarding the need to address Iran’s activities in the drone and missile domain.