German foreign minister warns Iran of new sanctions

BERLIN

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Friday called for de-escalation in the Middle East and warned Iran of new sanctions.


Speaking to reporters at the end of a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Italy, Baerbock said Germany and its partners were united in condemning last weekend’s attack on Israel, and taking a clear stance against Iran’s actions.


“The fact is that last weekend Iran escalated tensions in an unprecedented manner, and tried to bring an entire region to the brink of chaos. This must not remain without consequences,” Baerbock said.


She underlined that the G7 group of major industrial countries were prepared to take further sanctions and measures against Iran.


“This is the time when we as democracies and value partners stand together - our strength lies in acting together. As G7, today we have agreed on further sanctions and measures on the Iranian regime,” the minister said.


Baerbock also renewed her call on Israel to exercise restraint in order to prevent a conflagration in the region.


“This is the time when everything must be done to prevent an escalation spiral with unforeseeable consequences for an entire region,” she said.


“We as G7 are repeating here today that everyone must act prudently and responsibly, because neither the people in Israel, or Iran, nor in other countries in the region want to be plunged into a catastrophe - they all just want to live in peace.”


Germany has been a staunch ally of Israel, and German government officials have repeatedly said that the country bears special responsibility for Israel’s security due to its Nazi past.


Tensions between Iran and Israel escalated last weekend after Tehran launched a drone and missile attack in response to the April 1 strike on its consulate in Syria, which killed seven Iranian military officers, including two top-ranking commanders.


As a retaliation, Israel reportedly carried out a “limited strike” inside Iran early Friday morning, which according to Israeli media reports “was meant to send a signal rather than cause damage”.


Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, and there has been no official comment by the authorities.


Iranian authorities also downplayed the reports, and said the sound of explosions heard in the city of Isfahan was the result of Iranian air defense systems firing at “suspicious objects.”