Iran Slams New European Sanctions as Provocative, Warns of Further Escalation at IAEA

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has strongly condemned the new sanctions imposed by European countries, calling them unjustified and provocative. In a phone conversation with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Wednesday, Araghchi criticized the European move and reiterated Tehran’s firm stance against such actions. He warned that any anti-Iran measures at the upcoming International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors meeting would only worsen the situation.

Araghchi specifically rebuked the joint decision by Germany, France, and the United Kingdom to present an anti-Iran resolution at the IAEA meeting, stating that it undermines the constructive dialogue between Iran and the agency. He argued that these actions directly contradict the positive steps taken by Iran in its engagement with the IAEA, escalating tensions instead of fostering cooperation.

On regional issues, Araghchi also condemned the ongoing Zionist aggression against Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, highlighting the responsibility of those supporting the Zionist regime in exacerbating the violence. He called for urgent action to halt the zionist attacks, emphasizing the dire humanitarian consequences of the conflict. Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, nearly 44,000 people, primarily women and children, have been killed.