Speeches

Mr President, honourable Members, Mr Borrell, on 13 April, Iran seized a Portuguese-flagged vessel along with its crew and cargo. We have little information on the conditions of detention of the crew, the vessel and its cargo. This is an illegal and unwanted act by the IRGC. Therefore, I would second what my colleagues have mentioned about the importance of stating that the IRGC is a terrorist organisation and sanctions should be applied forthwith. As we mark 200 days of the attack of 7 October, and after witnessing the barrage of missiles and drones launched by Iran against Israel, we must not forget the price of inaction. Mr Borrell, Iran and Hamas do not care about the lawful right of self-determination of the Palestinian people, but only the destruction of the State of Israel and of the Jewish people. That is the context. In the EU, if we want to be an honest broker in the region, we must be able to understand this. Only after stopping Iran will we be able to reach a two-state solution. A last point on the issue of antisemitism in this House: we just witnessed an antisemitic speech. Measures must be taken and I will make sure that they will.