The EP condemns Iran’s attack on Israel and called for de-escalation – Around the world and in our country

In a resolution adopted today with 357 votes in favor, 20 against and 58 abstentions, MEPs strongly condemned Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel and called for additional sanctions against Iran, the press service of the European Parliament reported.

Condemning the Iranian attack on 13 and 14 April, Parliament expressed serious concern about the escalation and the threat to regional security. MEPs reiterated their full support for the security of Israel and its citizens and condemned the simultaneous missile attacks carried out by Iranian proxy forces, namely the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Yemeni Houthis against the Golan Heights and Israeli territory before and during the Iranian attack .

At the same time, they deplored the attack on the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus on April 1, which was largely attributed to Israel. In the resolution quoted by the press service of the EP, it recalls the importance of the principle of inviolability of diplomatic and consular buildings, which according to international law must be respected in all cases.

Calling on all parties to avoid any further escalation and to exercise maximum restraint, Parliament expressed deep concern about the destabilizing role that the Iranian regime and its network of non-state actors are playing in the Middle East, the legislature’s press office reported. MEPs welcomed the EU’s decision to extend the current sanctions regime against Iran, including by sanctioning Iran’s supply and production of unmanned drones and missiles to Russia and the wider Middle East region. They called for urgent sanctions and called for targeting more individuals and entities.

The resolution also reiterated Parliament’s long-standing call for the IRGC to be added to the EU’s list of terrorist organizations, given that over the past 30 years the organization has been involved in the planning and/or execution of dozens of operations, assassinations and terrorist attacks on EU territory, including the 2012 bus bombing in Bulgaria that killed five Israelis and one Bulgarian citizen. MEPs also called on the Council and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, in the resolution cited by the EP press office, to add Hezbollah to the same list.

As Iran continues to fail to comply with its legal obligations under the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, MEPs called on the Iranian authorities to immediately comply with their obligations and resolve any related outstanding issues. They also condemned Iran’s use of the so-called “hostage diplomacy” — holding foreign nationals in prison as a bargaining chip — and urged the EU to launch a counter-strategy with the help of a special task force to better support the families of detainees and effectively prevent future hostage-taking, handed over the press office of the European Parliament.

Finally, the resolution welcomes the Council’s decision to launch the EU naval operation Aspides to ensure freedom of navigation off the coast of Yemen. MEPs urged the EU and its Member States to consolidate and intensify all efforts to ensure the safe and immediate release of all hostages from the vessel Galaxy Leader, including two Bulgarian, one Romanian and three Ukrainian nationals, who have been held by the Houthis since 19 November 2023 onwards.

“Europe must be a leader in the initiative to achieve peace in the Middle East. Unfortunately, the conflict is growing and endangering both the interests of the EU and the security of European citizens. A concrete example is the daring attacks of the Yemeni Houthis in the Red Sea and the hostage taking of three European citizens six months ago – two Bulgarians and one Romanian. The EU cannot leave this battle to the member states. If we are talking about leadership, it should be evident precisely on the field of diplomacy with a strong and very proactive position”, said the MEP Elena Yoncheva during the debates in the plenary hall, addressing the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell.

The MEP Andrey Kovachev (EPP) also spoke about the case of the hijacked ship Galaxy Leader. Since November 2023, the vessel has been captured by the Yemeni Houthis in the Red Sea. The captain and co-captain are Bulgarian citizens. A Romanian citizen is among those detained as part of the crew. The Houthis have attacked ships in the region, claiming their actions were in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.

The text also calls on Iran and its controlled groups to guarantee the release of the Portuguese-flagged vessel “Eris” and its European crew, the press service of the EP concluded.

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