French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian urged the European Union on Monday to consider new sanctions on Iran over its involvement in Syria's civil war and its ballistic missile program.
US President Donald Trump has given the European signatories a May 12 deadline to "fix the terrible flaws" of the Iran nuclear deal, which was agreed under his predecessor Barack Obama, or he will refuse to extend US sanctions relief on Iran.
In response, the three European signatories – France, Britain and Germany - have proposed new EU sanctions targeting Iranians who support Syria's regime and Tehran's ballistic missile program, according to a confidential document seen by Reuters.
"We must not exclude (from consideration) Iran's responsibility in the proliferation of ballistic missiles and in its very questionable role in the near- and Middle East,"Le Drian told reporters on arrival for talks with his EU counterparts. "That must also be discussed to reach a common position."
The confidential document cites "transfers of Iranian missiles and missile technology" to Syria and allies of Tehran, such as Houthi rebels in Yemen and Lebanon's “Hezbollah.”
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