Tehran Vows Response to EU’s Interventionist Moves

Iran is poised to take appropriate reciprocal action in response to any interventionist behavior by the European Union, a senior Iranian diplomat said just ahead of the bloc’s decision to slap sanctions on Iran on Monday over alleged human rights issues.   
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will decide and take action immediately in proportion with their measures,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said at a regular press briefing on Monday, ISNA reported.
He hoped that talks conducted to that date would result in Europe’s reasonable and logical approach toward Iran. 
Iran has experienced unrest in recent weeks following the death of a young girl in police custody. 
Some western countries have expressed support for rioters and accused the Iranian government of widespread crackdown. 
The United States, Canada and Britain have already imposed sanctions on Iranian officials and entities over the developments, while EU countries agreed to level new sanctions on the Islamic Republic during their foreign ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg on Monday.
Kanaani said Iran invites the European states to be rational and adhere to their own mottos. 
“We advise European countries against unreasonable and meddlesome behavior,” he said.
He added that imposition of new sanctions would be an unconstructive and illogical measure which would meet Iran’s proportionate response. 
“Iran will not compromise on its interests.” 
Kanaani also said countries that make claims against Iran are violators of human rights themselves, both regarding their own citizens and those of regional states and elsewhere. 
He stressed that the Iranian government respects the views of its citizens and cares for their security. 
In case of logical and reasonable behavior by European sides, Iran can be the most important partner and cooperator for the establishment of peace, stability and security in the region, according to the spokesman. 
Nevertheless, at the meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers on Monday, the EU Council added eleven individuals and four entities to the list of human rights sanctions, in view of what they claimed as “their role in the death of Mahsa Amini and the violent response to the recent demonstrations in Iran.”
“The EU expects Iran to immediately stop the violent crackdown against peaceful protesters, to free those detained, and to ensure the free flow of information, including internet access,” the foreign ministers said in a statement issued on Monday evening. 

Additional Sanctions  

Several EU ministers have also spoken of separate, new sanctions if Tehran’s involvement in Russia’s war with Ukraine was proven.
Ukraine has reported a spate of Russian attacks allegedly with Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones in recent weeks. 
“Additional EU sanctions on Iran will not be limited to blacklisting some individuals,” Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said as he arrived for the EU meeting.
“We will look for concrete evidence about the participation [of Iran in the Ukraine war],” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters upon arrival for the meeting.
Kanaani denied the allegations, highlighting repeated rejection by Iranian authorities in the past weeks. 
“The news that is published has political ambitions and is chiefly overplayed by western media,” he said. 
Iran has repeatedly announced that it takes neither side in the Russia-Ukraine war and has not provided any weapon for either of warring countries, the diplomat underlined. 
“Iran’s foreign policy is based on opposition to war … we try to use our capacities to help end the military approach.” 
“We look for and welcome political solutions for handling this crisis.” 

Nuclear Talks 

Asked if European potential sanctions would impact negotiations on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, Kanaani noted that the talks are pursued within its own course. 
“An agreement is a two-sided process and I hope that the other sides are committed to the course of talks and move in a direction in which past efforts can reach a favorable outcome,” he said. 
The 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, offered sanctions relief to Tehran in return for curbs on its nuclear program, but the US pulled out four years ago and reimposed tough sanctions that prompted Iran to react by rowing back on its commitments. 
Negotiations have been underway for more than a year to work out how both sides can resume compliance, but have reached a stalemate over final differences. 
Borrell said on Monday he currently did not expect progress in the talks. 
“I don’t expect any move, that’s a pity because we were very, very close,” he said in Luxembourg.
Kanaani said, however, that the issue is not removed from Iran’s foreign policy agenda, while diplomatic exchange of messages shows that the other sides are also committed to continuing the process. 
“All technical grounds are prepared for the revival of the JCPOA and all sides’ return to the deal… Its realization depends on the US political decision at the moment,” he said.