Iran Threatens Retaliation over Sanctions Imposed by EU, Britain

Protesters block a street in Iran. Reuters file photo
Protesters block a street in Iran. Reuters file photo
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Iran Threatens Retaliation over Sanctions Imposed by EU, Britain

Protesters block a street in Iran. Reuters file photo
Protesters block a street in Iran. Reuters file photo

Iran on Tuesday strongly condemned fresh sanctions imposed by the European Union and Britain and said it would retaliate, after the West stepped up pressure on Iran over its crackdown on protests.

Tehran “will soon announce the list of new sanctions against the human rights violators of EU and England," Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said in a statement.

The European Union imposed sanctions on more than 30 Iranian officials and organizations, including units of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), blaming them for a "brutal" crackdown on unrest and other human rights abuses.

Some EU governments and the European Parliament have made clear they want the IRGC as a whole added to the bloc's list of terrorist organizations. But the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, noted that could only happen if a court in an EU country determined the IRGC was guilty of terrorism.

The United States and Britain also issued new sanctions against Iran, reflecting a deterioration in the West's already dire relations with Tehran.

The sanctions are the latest response to Iran's deadly clampdown on unrest after the death of young Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in morality police custody in September.



Iran Says it Cannot Return to Diplomacy while Under Attack

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. AFP
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. AFP
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Iran Says it Cannot Return to Diplomacy while Under Attack

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. AFP
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. AFP

Iran reserves all options to defend its security, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday, adding that Tehran could not return to diplomacy while under attack by Israel and the United States, and would consult with Russia on Monday.

"The US showed they have no respect for international law. They only understand the language of threat and force," Araghchi said, adding that Tehran has to respond based on its rights before diplomacy can be reconsidered.

The Iranian foreign minister said he will fly to Russia, with whom Iran has a strategic partnership, and consult with President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

The United States attacked three sites in Iran early Sunday.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Washington had “betrayed diplomacy” with the military strikes in support of Israel, and said that “the US has itself launched a dangerous war against Iran.”