About: Iran
Europe calls for ‘urgent restraint’ as US hits Iran with extra sanctions
The European Union called for an "immediate de-escalation" of tensions in the Middle East on Monday (24 June), as the US government announced new "hard-hitting" sanctions on Iran after launching a series of cyber attacks on the country last week.
Iran-US tensions dominate two Central Asia summits
Two regional summits held in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan last week had a common denominator: the support from Russia and China to Iran in the face of US threats after two oil tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman.
Trump’s sanctions are working and will prevent war with Iran
The attack of two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman yesterday (13 June), which were widely attributed to Iran, shows Tehran is engaged in a series of missteps that will land it further in financial pain rather than war, writes Hagar Hajjar Chemali.
Tensions surge as US accuses Iran of Gulf of Oman tanker ‘attacks’
Washington accused Iran of carrying out attacks that left two tankers ablaze in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday (13 June), escalating tensions across the region.
Suspected attack on tankers shows volatility of oil markets
The price of crude oil, which has been languishing at five-month lows, jumped suddenly on Thursday (13 June) following unconfirmed reports of an attack on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.
The US isn’t protecting oil supplies from the Middle East, it wants to control prices as foreign policy
America’s extensive use of military and economic coercion in the Middle East and other oil-producing countries around the world reflects the US’s new position as an exporter of oil and liquefied natural gas, argues Robin Mills. Robin Mills is the...
Trump warns he could order the ‘official end of Iran’
US President Donald Trump issued a new threat to Tehran on Sunday (19 May), tweeting that a conflict would be the “official end” of Iran, as Saudi Arabia warned it stood ready to respond with “all strength” and said it was up to Iran to avoid war.
Iran threatens to abandon nuclear deal commitments, putting agreement at risk
Iran will abandon two of its commitments under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The announcement on Wednesday (8 May) comes exactly one year after the Trump administration pulled out of the landmark accord and leaves most of the international community worried.
Iran and the US are inching toward war
There can be little doubt now that Iran and the US are inching toward full-scale war. All attempts by either to force a change in the other’s behavior have come to nothing. Conflict now seems inevitable, writes Dnyanesh Kamat.
US deploying carrier, bombers to Middle East to deter Iran
The Trump administration is deploying a carrier strike group and bombers to the Middle East in response to troubling "indications and warnings" from Iran and to show the United States will retaliate with "unrelenting force" to any attack, national security adviser John Bolton said on Sunday (5 May).
Russia cashes in as European oil refiners pay for US sanctions
European refiners are paying the price for US oil sanctions on Venezuela and Iran as they scramble to replace the sour crude Washington has blocked from the global market with increasingly expensive Russian oil, trading sources said and data showed.
In unprecedented move, US names Iran’s Revolutionary Guards a terrorist group
President Donald Trump said on Monday (8 April) he would name Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization, in an unprecedented step that drew Iranian condemnation and raised concerns about retaliatory attacks on US forces.
INF treaty end would give US, Russia impetus to make more nukes: study
The demise of the only US-Russia arms control pact limiting deployed nuclear weapons would make it harder for each to gauge the other’s intentions, giving both incentives to expand their arsenals, according to a study to be released on Monday (1 April).
Kazakh Minister: Growing interest for next round of Astana talks
The next round of talks under the so-called Astana Process will take place next month, and there is a growing international interest for this forum, First Deputy of the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
Return of refugees to Syria timidly comes on the agenda
Key speakers at a Brussels-held conference dedicated to Syria made first timid references on Thursday (14 March) to the need to prepare for the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, as the eight-year-long war appeared to be coming to an end.
Six years after Rouhani’s election, moderation is as far away as ever for Iran
EU Governments and Institutions should severe their ties with Iranian businesses and diplomats, pending serious reforms in order to implement human rights and freedoms, writes Julio Terzi.
Iran’s democratic resistance movement can no longer be ignored
Western politicians who defend the status quo in Iran relations are divorced from reality, writes Lord Maginnis of Drumglass.
Munich Security Conference 2019 – Day #3
EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into the hot topics of this year’s Munich Security Conference and what is driving the conversation on foreign, defence and security policy. Day 3 in a nutshell with Iran, transatlantic relations and accession hopes.
Munich Security Conference 2019 – Day #2
EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into the hot topics of this year’s Munich Security Conference and what is driving the conversation on foreign, defence and security policy from Day 2. On the menu: Merkel, Pence, Lavrov, climate change, Balkans.
Abandon Iran nuclear deal, Pence tells EU allies, Merkel disagrees
US Vice President Mike Pence urged European allies once again on Saturday (16 February) to follow Washington's lead and withdraw from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, saying the regime there "openly advocates another Holocaust".
An opportunity for transatlantic unity on Iran
This week marks the 40th anniversary of the revolution that overthrew the Shah in Iran and created the Islamic Republic. It is a good time to review the position of the European Union and its member states towards this totalitarian theocracy, argues Alejo Vidal-Quadras.
EU condemns Iran’s missile launches, ‘hostile’ activities
In a joint statement unanimously adopted by the bloc's ambassadors on Monday (4 February), the EU voiced its concerns over Iran's recent ballistic missile launches and called on Tehran to put an "immediate end" to its "unacceptable behaviour" or risk destabilising the region.
Europeans open new trade channel to Iran, bypassing US sanctions
Britain, France and Germany on Thursday (31 January) launched a trade mechanism to bypass US sanctions on Iran, drawing praise from Tehran – and a warning from Washington.