About: Iran
EU participation in ‘anti-Iran summit’ shrouded in uncertainty
The US-initiated Middle East summit to be held in Warsaw in mid-February has been touted as the most important event held in the city since the 2016 NATO summit. But Tehran has dismissed the meeting as a “desperate anti-Iranian circus" and the EU is struggling for a common position.
Under Dutch and Danish pressure, EU hits Iran with sanctions after murder plots
The EU hit Iran’s intelligence services with sanctions on Tuesday (8 January) after accusing Tehran of being behind plots to assassinate regime opponents on Dutch, Danish and French soil. The move by the 28-nation bloc was announced as the Dutch government said it...
2019 LOOKAHEAD: clouds on the trade horizon
A wave of protectionism and obstacles to free trade hit the global economy in 2018, and threaten economic growth in 2019. Although more disputes are expected, there is some cause for hope too.
Allies stunned, Russia delighted at Trump’s decision to withdraw from Syria
US President Donald Trump overrode his top national security aides, blindsided US ground commanders, and stunned lawmakers and allies with his order for US troops to leave Syria, a decision that upends American policy in the Middle East.
EU counter-terrorism chief: Europe ‘may see something like Daesh 2.0’
The level of terrorist threat remains "pretty serious" in several EU countries, Gilles de Kerchove, the EU's counter-terrorism coordinator, told EURACTIV.com in an interview hours before the latest attack in Strasbourg on Tuesday night (12 December).
EU should sanction Iran over missile tests, US says
The United States is pressing the European Union to consider economic sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missiles, a senior US official said on Tuesday (4 December), warning of a wider regional conflict if Tehran's ambitions remain unchecked.
EU should support Iranian freedom fighters instead of investing in a fading theocracy
The EU High Representative Federica Mogherini’s response to the series of Iranian terror plots on European soil has been a total silence, writes Jaromír Štětina.
Official: Azerbaijan is ready for chairing Non-Aligned Movement in 2019-2022
Azerbaijan, a supporter of multilateralism and international cooperation, will chair the Non-Aligned Movement in 2019-2022, with international peace and security as the top priority issues, a senior official from the country told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
UN Security Council to meet on Iran missile test
The UN Security Council will meet behind closed doors on Tuesday (4 December) at the request of France and Britain after they accused Iran of test-firing a medium-range missile at the weekend, diplomats said.
Brussels ministerial paves the way to launching EU Central Asia strategy
The European Union is expected to define its strategy for Central Asia in early 2019. A preparatory meeting between the EU and the foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) took place in Brussels on Friday (23 November).
EU to consider sanctions on Iran for failed attack plots
EU foreign ministers on Monday (19 November) agreed to examine possible sanctions against Iran over two foiled attacks in Europe blamed on Iranian intelligence, as demands grow for tough action against Tehran.
US representative for Syria: We’re not going to put this country back together
James F. Jeffrey, Special Representative for Syria engagement in the US Department of State, answered on Tuesday (30 October) the questions of a small group of Brussels journalists about the state of play in and around Syria.
Macron, Trump confer ahead of Istanbul Syria summit with Putin
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone Thursday (25 October) with US counterpart Donald Trump about strategy ahead of a four-way summit on Syria in Istanbul this weekend, the Élysée palace said.
Bolton tests the Caucasus waters ‘to advance American interests’
The Assistant to US President for National Security Affairs John Bolton arrived in Azerbaijan on Wednesday (24 October), as part of a tour which will also take him to Armenia and Georgia, in an effort described by commentators as an attempt to isolate Iran.
Twitter publishes tweet trove from Russia, Iran trolling campaigns
Twitter published a trove of some 10 million tweets that it said are potentially the product of state-backed operations by Russia and Iran, shedding new light on the scale and nature of misinformation campaigns mounted by the two nations.
Religious leaders raise their flags at Astana gathering
Kazakhstan got praise today (10 October) for hosting for the sixth time the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which traditionally issues messages of peace, mutual respect and tolerance. A few religious leaders however defended their countries controversial policies.
Kazakh researcher: EU is like a dog with an Elizabethan collar
Kazakhstan has succeeded where the EU has failed - creating a society based on multiculturalism, Saginaty Berdaulova told EURACTIV in an interview.
US ‘disturbed and deeply disappointed’ by EU over Iran sanctions
Tensions between the United States and the European Union over Iran soared into the open Tuesday (25 September) after the Europeans announced plans for a legal framework to preserve business with Tehran and evade new US sanctions.
EU appeals to ‘Astana guarantors’ to avoid Idlib catastrophe
Commenting on the decision by Russia and Turkey to create a “demilitarised” zone in a rebel-held Syrian region, the EU called on Tuesday (18 September) on the “Astana guarantors”, Russia, Turkey and Iran, to respect civilians as a matter of priority.
Russia says Turkey has key job of separating out militants in Syria’s Idlib
Russia hopes for a peaceful resolution of the situation in Syria's rebel-held province of Idlib but believes it is up to Turkey to separate Islamist militants from the moderate opposition, Russia's Syria envoy said on Tuesday (11 September).
EU warns of humanitarian disaster in Syrian city of Idlib
Russian and Syrian jets hammered a major rebel stronghold on Tuesday (4 September), days before leaders of Russia, Iran and Turkey meet to discuss an expected Syrian government offensive that could spark a humanitarian disaster.
Europe should counter Iran’s cyber espionage, infiltration, terrorism
The more discord persists in the West over the means of responding to Iranian covert operations, the more impact these operations will have, writes Alejo Vidal-Quadras.
Iran says awaiting European guarantees on oil sales, banking
Iran is awaiting European guarantees on the sale of Iranian oil and banking relations, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Saturday (25 August), according to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA).