EU mulls new sanctions on Iran as leaders scramble to avert "wider war"

The EU capitals are indeed discussing imposing new economic sanctions against Iran in response to the recent escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel.

The move comes after Iran fired 300 missiles and drones at Israel, marking its first-ever direct strike on the country after years of shadow conflict. This has significantly heightened the risk of a full-blown regional war in the Middle East, Caliber.Az reports, citing FT.

In response to the escalating situation, European leaders have engaged in crisis diplomacy, including an emergency video meeting of G7 leaders. Three key focus areas have emerged from these discussions: condemning Iran's actions and expressing solidarity with Israel, drawing up plans for potential sanctions, and utilizing diplomatic channels to urge Tehran to de-escalate tensions.

EU officials have been in extensive communication with their Iranian counterparts in recent days, aiming to mitigate further hostilities. European Chief Diplomat Josep Borrell held discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, emphasizing the importance of avoiding further escalation.

The EU foreign ministers are set to convene for an emergency video meeting tomorrow to assess the situation and discuss potential sanctions. Among the proposals being considered are designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) defence force as a terrorist organization, as well as imposing sanctions on Iran's drone and missile programs. However, reaching a consensus on these measures has historically proven challenging for the EU.