FM Katz praises decision to ‘defang the snake’ after EU approves more Iran sanctions

EU wants to ‘do everything to isolate Iran’

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The European Union decided to impose more sanctions on the Iranian regime on Wednesday, as European leaders gathered for a two-day summit in Brussels, Belgium.

“We have decided to put in place sanctions against Iran, it is a clear signal that we wanted to send,” European Council President Charles Michel said during the summit.

“The idea is to target the companies that are needed for the drones, for the missiles. We feel it’s very important to do everything to isolate Iran,” Michel added.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz congratulated the EU on its decision.

“This is an important step on the way to defanging the snake – and thanks to all our friends for their support and assistance. Iran must be stopped now before it is too late,” said Katz.

The EU already has several sanctions in place, especially aimed at Iran’s drone sales to Russia for its war against Ukraine, as well as the regime’s human rights abuses and its nuclear program.

“For us, it is important that this moment is now also used for further de-escalation and that Israel also uses this success to strengthen its position in the whole region and not respond with a massive attack of its own,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The United States and several Western leaders have been pressuring Israel to be satisfied with having defended itself against Iran’s missile and drone attack last weekend and not retaliate in a way that could cause further escalation.

Before the Brussels summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said he had made a call to expand the sanctions.

“We are in favor of sanctions that can also target all those who help manufacture drones and missiles that were used in the attacks last Saturday and Sunday,” he said.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani agreed that “sanctions should be imposed on all those who give drones, weapons, and missiles to those who attack Israel and those who attack ships in the Red Sea.”

After the first day of the summit, the EU vowed it would “take further restrictive measures against Iran, notably in relation to unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles.”

The 27-member-state European Union urged “Iran and its proxies to cease all attacks” while urging all sides to exercise “utmost restraint and to refrain from any action that may increase tensions in the region.”