Follow live the latest news on Iran's attack on Israel
BRUSSELS, April 15 () –
The foreign ministers of the European Union meet this Tuesday by videoconference in an extraordinary meeting called to address the crisis in the Middle East following the attacks with Iranian drones and missiles against Israel, with the latent threat of adopting new sanctions against the military sector of Tehran.
Urgently summoned by the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, the foreign ministers of the bloc will discuss the “next steps” to be taken within the framework of the tension caused by the unprecedented attack with some 300 drones and missiles launched by Iran in response to the attack on its Consulate in Damascus, blamed on Israel and which resulted in the death of seven members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
In his message on social networks in which he confirmed the meeting, the head of community diplomacy reiterated that the objective of the meeting is “to contribute to de-escalation and achieving security in the region.”
At a press conference from Brussels this Monday, Foreign Affairs spokesman Peter Stano avoided confirming whether there will be new sanctions against Iran. He has thus stated that discussing more sanctions is a process that is in the hands of the member states and has limited himself to remembering that sanctions already weigh against Tehran for nuclear proliferation and serious violations of rights.
The idea floats in the bloc of studying more measures against Iran in response to last Saturday's unprecedented offensive with drones and missiles, especially after the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, pointed in this direction after the meeting of the G7 leaders this Sunday.
As to whether the issue will be on the ministers' table this Tuesday, some diplomatic sources rule it out, assuring that the High Representative is avoiding this scenario for the moment, while other delegations assume that the issue will be discussed among those responsible for Foreign Affairs.
The EU seeks to join forces to send a clear message in favor of reducing tensions in the area, after Israel has left the door open to another attack in response to Iran's drone and missile launches. All in the midst of calls from the international community to contain the conflict and the United States demanding a coordinated “diplomatic response” to call for calm and avoid a spike in tension in the Middle East.
