European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has made clear that the European Union is not ready to ease its sanctions on Iran, stressing that meaningful change inside the country must come first, according to Reuters.
Speaking in Berlin on Monday at a gathering of Germany’s conservative CDU party and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, von der Leyen said lifting sanctions at this stage would be premature. The measures, she noted, were imposed in response to Iran’s treatment of its own people, particularly the government’s crackdown on dissent.
“We believe it is too early to drop sanctions,” she said, underlining the EU’s position that pressure should remain in place as long as serious concerns persist about human rights and internal repression.
Von der Leyen pointed to the need for what she described as a “fundamental change” within Iran before any reconsideration of sanctions could take place. Her remarks suggest that the EU is looking for clear and lasting improvements, rather than temporary or symbolic steps.
The statement comes at a time when questions about sanctions policy are once again being debated internationally. Some voices have called for easing restrictions as part of broader diplomatic efforts, while others argue that lifting pressure too soon could weaken leverage and send the wrong signal.
Von der Leyen’s comments place the European Union firmly in the latter camp, emphasizing caution and consistency. For now, the message from Brussels remains unchanged: without visible and substantial reforms, sanctions on Iran are likely to stay in place.
