٠٠:٠٢:٠٢EU foreign policy chief Josep Borell said the bloc would start the 'necessary work' to expand 'restrictive measures' on Iran while speaking in Strasbourg following a virtual meeting of foreign ministers on Tuesday.
“Some member states proposed the option of expanding the restrictive measures against Iran. Adopting an expansion with restrictive measures against Iran,” Borrell said.
“I will send to the External Action Service the request to start the necessary work related to these sanctions," he continued.
The EU minister’s comments come after Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel on Saturday night in Tehran's first direct attack on the Jewish state, signalling a major escalation of tensions in the region.
The attack came as a response to the alleged Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, which killed at least seven members of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Israel did not claim responsibility for that attack.
IRGC Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri has warned that Tehran would launch a 'much bigger' offensive if Israel were to target Iranian soil in response to Saturday's attack, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was prepared to respond to a 'direct attack by Iran'.
Borrell added that EU ministers had expressed a 'strong condemnation' of the attack, called on 'all actors to show restraint' and remained united to 'avoid further escalation'.
“Also, the Member States reaffirmed their commitment, the commitment of the European Union, to Israel’s security,” he said.
Finally, Borrell urged the international community not to forget 'what is going on' in the Gaza Strip.
“Yes, we have to pay a lot of attention to the Iranian attack on Israel, and as we have done, to provide assistance and defence means that have proved very useful in shooting down the missiles and the drones used to attack Israel but we don't have to forget what is happening in Gaza," he said.
Tensions between Iran and Israel have reached boiling point as fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is currently in its seventh month. The Palestinian group launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials reported that at least 33,797 people had been killed and 76,465 injured at the time of publication.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.
EU working on expansion of 'restrictive measures against Iran' - Borrell
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borell said the bloc would start the 'necessary work' to expand 'restrictive measures' on Iran while speaking in Strasbourg following a virtual meeting of foreign ministers on Tuesday.
“Some member states proposed the option of expanding the restrictive measures against Iran. Adopting an expansion with restrictive measures against Iran,” Borrell said.
“I will send to the External Action Service the request to start the necessary work related to these sanctions," he continued.
The EU minister’s comments come after Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel on Saturday night in Tehran's first direct attack on the Jewish state, signalling a major escalation of tensions in the region.
The attack came as a response to the alleged Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, which killed at least seven members of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Israel did not claim responsibility for that attack.
IRGC Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri has warned that Tehran would launch a 'much bigger' offensive if Israel were to target Iranian soil in response to Saturday's attack, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was prepared to respond to a 'direct attack by Iran'.
Borrell added that EU ministers had expressed a 'strong condemnation' of the attack, called on 'all actors to show restraint' and remained united to 'avoid further escalation'.
“Also, the Member States reaffirmed their commitment, the commitment of the European Union, to Israel’s security,” he said.
Finally, Borrell urged the international community not to forget 'what is going on' in the Gaza Strip.
“Yes, we have to pay a lot of attention to the Iranian attack on Israel, and as we have done, to provide assistance and defence means that have proved very useful in shooting down the missiles and the drones used to attack Israel but we don't have to forget what is happening in Gaza," he said.
Tensions between Iran and Israel have reached boiling point as fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is currently in its seventh month. The Palestinian group launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials reported that at least 33,797 people had been killed and 76,465 injured at the time of publication.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borell said the bloc would start the 'necessary work' to expand 'restrictive measures' on Iran while speaking in Strasbourg following a virtual meeting of foreign ministers on Tuesday.
“Some member states proposed the option of expanding the restrictive measures against Iran. Adopting an expansion with restrictive measures against Iran,” Borrell said.
“I will send to the External Action Service the request to start the necessary work related to these sanctions," he continued.
The EU minister’s comments come after Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel on Saturday night in Tehran's first direct attack on the Jewish state, signalling a major escalation of tensions in the region.
The attack came as a response to the alleged Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, which killed at least seven members of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Israel did not claim responsibility for that attack.
IRGC Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri has warned that Tehran would launch a 'much bigger' offensive if Israel were to target Iranian soil in response to Saturday's attack, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was prepared to respond to a 'direct attack by Iran'.
Borrell added that EU ministers had expressed a 'strong condemnation' of the attack, called on 'all actors to show restraint' and remained united to 'avoid further escalation'.
“Also, the Member States reaffirmed their commitment, the commitment of the European Union, to Israel’s security,” he said.
Finally, Borrell urged the international community not to forget 'what is going on' in the Gaza Strip.
“Yes, we have to pay a lot of attention to the Iranian attack on Israel, and as we have done, to provide assistance and defence means that have proved very useful in shooting down the missiles and the drones used to attack Israel but we don't have to forget what is happening in Gaza," he said.
Tensions between Iran and Israel have reached boiling point as fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is currently in its seventh month. The Palestinian group launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials reported that at least 33,797 people had been killed and 76,465 injured at the time of publication.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.