European foreign ministers will discuss the transfer of Iranian drones to Russia on Monday and could reach a political agreement on future sanctions related to such activities, two diplomats said on Friday, cited by Reuters.

In recent weeks, Ukraine has reported a series of attacks by Russia using Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones.

Iran denies supplying drones to Russia, and the Kremlin does not comment on this information.

Three drones operated by Russian forces attacked the small town of Makariv west of the Ukrainian capital on Thursday morning, with officials saying critical infrastructure had been hit by what they said were Iranian-made “kamikaze drones”.

A review of drone activity has been carried out and the topic is now high on the agenda, diplomats said, citing preparatory meetings ahead of Monday’s ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg.

Diplomats said that while it was impossible to agree on new sanctions on Monday, there could be a political deal that would pave the way for sanctions at a later stage.

“Sanctions are needed”

The bloc is already set to impose travel bans and asset freezes on about 15 Iranians involved in the crackdown on demonstrations that began last month after the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on Monday.

France and Germany, both signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, have made it clear they believe new sanctions against Russian drones are needed and that the drone transfer should be seen as a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

Resolution 2231 approved the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six nations: Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, which limited Tehran’s uranium enrichment activities, making it more difficult for Iran to develop nuclear weapons, in exchange for denuclearization. international sanctions.

An EU spokesman said foreign ministers would discuss Iran on Monday, but declined to comment on whether Iranian drones or drone transfer sanctions would be on the agenda.

“It will be considered, but there will be no sanctions now,” said one of the diplomats.

Iran’s transfer of drones would violate a UN resolution

France’s foreign ministry said on Thursday it would consult with its EU partners on how to respond to drone activity, and for the first time linked potential supplies to Iran to a UN Security Council resolution saying the activity was a violation.

According to the resolution, the arms embargo on Iran was in effect until October 2020.

Despite efforts by the United States under former President Donald Trump, who pulled the United States out of the deal in 2018, to extend the arms embargo, the Security Council rejected it, setting the stage for Iran to resume arms exports.

However, the resolution still contains restrictions on missiles and related technologies that will last until October 2023 and include the export and purchase of advanced military systems.

A diplomatic source said the drones in question fall under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), an informal political agreement between about 35 nations that seeks to limit the proliferation of missiles, missile technology and drones, and their sale would violate the resolution.

Russia heads the Missile Technology Control Group

The resolution does not mention the RTC, but refers to a letter submitted by the United States to the Security Council regarding the RTC, dated the day after the nuclear deal.

Iran is not a party to the RTC, but Russia is and is currently the president.

On September 9, the United States imposed sanctions on an Iranian company accused of coordinating military flights to transport Iranian drones to Russia, as well as three other companies it said were involved in the production of Iranian drones.

A senior EU diplomat told reporters that action would be taken, but no decision would be made on Monday.

The drone discussion comes as EU foreign ministers prepare to impose sanctions on Iran on Monday over human rights abuses in its crackdown on demonstrators.

The EU wants to impose sanctions on Iran due to human rights violations

European diplomats say the package, already agreed between EU officials, affects about 15 individuals and entities, includes asset freezes and travel bans, and follows similar sanctions imposed by the United States, Canada and Britain.

The package of sanctions forced Iran to send an official position to European ambassadors.

The document, seen by Reuters, said Iran was surprised by the EU’s response to the media-fueled crackdown and warned it would damage ties with Tehran and ultimately any chance of restoring the 2015 nuclear deal that was blocked since March. The diplomatic document cited casualties among Iranian security forces who faced “all forms of hooliganism” and reiterated the government’s claim that 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody sparking protests for nearly a month, died of medical complications. reasons .

The document notes that external factors were the cause of the protests, fueled by “factions that promote war in the United States.”

“We have made it clear that they have to think about what is happening inside the country and they cannot expect the EU to remain silent in the face of these massive human rights violations,” said one diplomat. (Source news.ro)