European Commission president rejects early sanctions relief for Iran

It is too soon to lift sanctions against Iran in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Speaking during a press conference in Berlin, von der Leyen pushed back against German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s suggestion that easing sanctions could help restore energy transit through the Strait of Hormuz, Caliber.Az reports. 

“We think the dropping of sanctions would be too early,” said Von der Leyen. “There is a reason why the sanctions are imposed on Iran, [because of] their behaviour towards their own population.”

She added: “The Iranian regime killed at least ‘17,000 young people’ this year. It’s the suppression of human rights and specifically women’s rights in Iran … that triggered the sanctions.”

Von der Leyen said any rollback of restrictions would require what she called a “fundamental change in Iran.”

The European Union last extended its Iran sanctions until late 2027 in March, following additional measures earlier in the year that included listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation, a long-standing demand from opposition groups.

By Sabina Mammadli