The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded that the European Union (EU) decide whether it wants to "behave like an independent actor or get used to imitating the policies" of the United States to "confuse that imitation with autonomy," considering that Brussels "seems to be yielding to U.S. coercion" after the Twenty-Seven welcomed "with satisfaction" the pressures on Tehran, including those arising from the 'Economic Marginalization' operation driven by Washington.
In a social media post, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, emphasized that "Europe can no longer speak of 'strategic autonomy' while it limits itself to executing Washington's orders" and stressed that "strategic autonomy is not guaranteed by grandiloquent statements," but "through the ability to decide independently and responsibly, even if those decisions differ from the position of a greater power."
In this sense, he insisted that "Europe must choose: behave like an independent actor or get so used to imitating the policies of others that it confuses that imitation with autonomy" and added that "the EU seems to be yielding its sovereignty, its laws and regulations, its values, and its ethics to U.S. coercion."
Baqaei recalled that "according to its own legislation, the European Union does not recognize the extraterritorial application of laws adopted by third countries and considers such effects contrary to International Law. The EU Blocking Statute expressly prohibits EU operators from complying with any requirement or prohibition based on the specified foreign statutes" and questioned "how can the Union then support the most predatory and illegal unilateral coercive measures against Iran," denouncing that Brussels "has become complicit in Washington's illegal conduct."
The spokesperson has described the European support for the U.S. economic offensive as "a serious violation of International Law" and warned that "each EU member state will be responsible for the consequences of its contribution to this unlawful act."
Lastly, he emphasized that "the European Union cannot support Washington's economic terrorism against Iran while claiming to seek de-escalation and regional stability," while stating that "both positions are mutually exclusive" and that the "irresponsible" stance taken by Brussels "evidences the moral decay and political incompetence of the EU."