Iran threatens ‘symmetrical, proportionate’ response to European sanctions

Iran has vowed to respond with a “symmetrical and proportionate” reaction after Britain, France, and Germany suspended air service agreements with Tehran and imposed sanctions on Iran Air. The European trio, known as the E3, announced on Tuesday that their measures followed confirmation of reports indicating that Iran had transferred ballistic missiles to Russia.

In parallel, the US has imposed sanctions on ten individuals and six companies in Iran and Russia, including Iran Air, in connection with the alleged missile transfers.

Nasser Kanani, the press secretary for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dismissed these allegations as “completely baseless and false” this week. Kanani criticized the European actions as part of a “hostile policy of the West” and accused them of imposing “economic terrorism” on the Iranian people. He warned that these measures would be met with a “symmetrical and proportionate response.”

The E3, in their statement, expressed concerns that the missile transfers signified a dangerous escalation in Iran’s military support for Russia’s war against Ukraine. They warned that such actions could potentially bring Iranian missiles to European soil and exacerbate the suffering of the Ukrainian people.