In response to Iran International, the European Union announced that, if necessary, it is ready to carry out further measures to protect its security and interests, including freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Christian Wigand, the senior spokesperson for the foreign and security policy service of the European Union, told Iran International that Brussels agrees with the United States about the destabilizing activities of the Islamic Republic in the region and Tehran’s nuclear program, and is deeply concerned about the continued military cooperation of the Islamic Republic with Russia.

Wigand said the European Union has imposed broad sanctions to prevent the Islamic Republic from using the global economy and financial system in line with hostile actions and the undermining of international security.

He also welcomed efforts to increase economic pressure on the Islamic Republic with the aim of halting destabilizing activities and bringing Tehran to engage in peace negotiations in good faith, and called the “economic sidelining operation” led by the United States one of these measures.

Wigand did not speak about the European Union’s official joining of this operation and only welcomed the U.S. campaign of economic pressure.