Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has issued a warning to Europe amid deteriorating relations between Tehran and Brussels.

During a meeting with his counterpart from Belarus, Vladimir Makei, Amir-Abdollahian addressed the sanctions Europe levied against Iranian entities and generals over Russia's use of Iranian-made drones in Ukraine. Amir-Abdollahian said, “We warn the Europeans to not repeat the unconstructive path that has failed in previous years.”

Twenty-seven European Union member states sanctioned three generals and five entities in Iran, including one allegedly responsible for the Shahed drone which Ukrainians say is being used in their country. One of the generals was Saeed Aghajani of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who oversees Iran’s drones program. The sanctions typically include travel bans and asset freezes. They are however mostly symbolic. Unlike Iranian diplomats and other bureaucrats, IRGC generals and intelligence services agents do not travel to Western countries. 

Amir-Abdollahian called allegations that Russia is using Iranian drones a “baseless accusation.” He invited a bilateral meeting between Iranian and Ukrainian experts to study the evidence of such claims together. Amir-Abdollahian reiterated Iran’s position that it opposes the war in Ukraine.