Before the Background of the bloody repression in Iran and military threats from the USA against the mullahs, the EU has tightened its pace against the regime. On Thursday, foreign ministers imposed new sanctions at a meeting in Brussels. In addition to the Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is also affected. The paramilitary arm of the Iranian regime is classified as a terrorist organization, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on X.
Germany has vehemently called for this terrorist listing. However, Italy and France have long resisted this in order to keep the door open to diplomacy. “We had to do a lot of convincing,” said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Brussels. Apparently with success: after Rome, the government in Paris also gave up its resistance shortly before the foreign ministers’ meeting.
Wadephul explained that he now expects a political agreement. The Iranian regime’s actions against its own population are so drastic and brutal “that there must be a clear reaction from the European Union as a community of values,” emphasized the CDU politician. “This is a success for the people of Iran.” You now know which side the Europeans are on.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot made similar comments. He said there should be “no impunity” for crimes committed in Iran. The Iranian people must decide their own future, Barrot added. “Anyone who acts as a terrorist should also be treated as a terrorist,” emphasized EU Foreign Affairs Representative Kaja Kallas.
Decision has symbolic value
However, the practical benefit is limited. The decision has more symbolic value and should be seen as a political signal to the opposition in Iran, it was said in Brussels. With the The Iranian Revolutionary Guard would be listed as a terrorist organization fall into a category with extremist organizations such as Hamas, “Islamic State” (IS) or al-Qaeda.
In addition, EU foreign ministers decided on new sanctions against individuals and organizations involved in the violent suppression of protests in Iran and support for Russia. In addition to Interior Minister Momeni, Attorney General Mohammed Mowahedi-Asad and the head of the security police, Seyed Majid Feis Jafari, were also placed on the sanctions list.
The punitive measures were last tightened in the fall when the EU triggered the so-called snapback mechanism. At the end of September, Iranian banks, energy and transport companies were hit with excessive penalties because of the unresolved dispute over Iran’s nuclear program. This has exacerbated the economic crisis in the country and contributed to the recent protests.
Diplomatic powder fired
It is unclear what will happen next. The EU has used its diplomatic powder. However, the Europeans are critical of a military solution like the one US President Donald Trump is threatening. A “regime change”, i.e. the overthrow of the mullahs’ regime and the establishment of a new, democratic government, can hardly be achieved from the outside, said an EU diplomat.
If there were to be a military escalation, it would also be a strategic defeat for Europe. Since the US war against Iraq in 2003, Europeans have called for a peaceful solution for Iran. With the JCPOA nuclear agreement, the EU wanted to prevent the mullahs’ regime from acquiring nuclear weapons. As an incentive, the leadership in Tehran was offered a comprehensive trade deal.
However, Israel and the USA torpedoed this approach from the start. In his first term, Trump pursued a policy of “maximum pressure” on Iran and even threatened the EU with sanctions. Last year, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks against Iran’s nuclear program. Now Trump is again threatening a military strike against the mullahs’ regime.
The Europeans have little to counter this. They have been playing not only in Iran, but also in Israel and throughout the Middle East the Gaza war just a supporting role. Since European “soft power” – diplomacy and trade – is no longer effective, calls for “hard power” – economic and military resistance or violence – are now becoming louder and louder.