Reuters:
The European Union could impose sanctions on Iran over its recent ballistic missile tests, France’s foreign minister said on Sunday.
The United States, France and other countries have already said that, if the missiles are confirmed as nuclear-capable, the tests, conducted last week by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, would violate U.N. Security Council resolution 2231.
Asked whether this could trigger sanctions from the European Union, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said: “We condemn ballistic missile tests and, if necessary, sanctions will be enacted.”
The tests are due to be discussed by EU foreign ministers at a meeting on Monday.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, whose country in January imposed sanctions on 11 companies and individuals for supplying Iran’s ballistic missile program after a series of tests at the end of last year, said the latest tests were a clear violation of U.N. Resolution 2231.
The United States plans to raise the issue in U.N. Security Council consultations this week and is urging other countries to help thwart Iran’s missile program.
“The missiles are a violation of the U.N. Security Council resolution because they are longer than the distance allowed for ballistic missiles and, because of that, they represent a potential threat to the countries in the region and beyond,” Kerry said.
