Threats of new sanctions by ‘paper tiger’ EU never frighten Iran: Embassy

Threats of new sanctions by the “paper tiger” European Union will “never frighten” Iran, stresses the Islamic Republic’s Embassy in Austria, after the bloc said it would impose sanctions against Tehran for closing the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on her X account on Monday, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas criticized Iran’s measure to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz to vessels of the United States and Israel and those of their allies, calling it "untenable."

“The EU is expanding its Iran sanctions to also include those responsible for obstructing freedom of navigation,” she said, describing the key waterway as “the world’s most important energy shipping lane.”

Iran’s measures to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz to aggressors and their allies came after a US-Israeli military coalition waged an unprovoked war of aggression against the Islamic Republic on February 28 and were tightened after the US imposed a naval blockade against Iranian vessels and southern ports.

In response to the EU’s new sanctions, Iran’s Embassy in Austria slammed the bloc’s threats, warning that any sanctions would trigger Tehran’s counter-reaction.

“We caution the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs: before you once again brandish the threat of sanctions against Iran, think carefully about Iran’s counter-reaction,” the embassy said on its X account.

“Iran emerged victorious and proud from an aggressive war imposed on it by two notoriously evil and criminal entities—the US and the Israeli regime. So let us be clear: the threats of a paper tiger will never frighten us. One way or another, you will learn to speak to Iran with the respect we are due,” it further stressed.

The shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz - a vital route for roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments - has caused severe disruptions to global energy flows and triggered sharp price volatility.

US warships trying to approach Iranian waters in recent weeks, in a desperate attempt to break Iran’s control over the Strait, have been repelled by direct Iranian fire. That has nullified Washington’s promises to restore normal shipping in the Persian Gulf, further tarnishing the US image as a global superpower.

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