Georgia declines to join EU sanctions against Iran

Georgia has declined to join the latest sanctions adopted by the European Union against Iran, declaring that its international political actions are guided exclusively by national interests, according to the Georgian news agency Interpressnews (IPN).

Ruling Georgian Dream member of parliament Tengiz Sharmanashvili said that Georgia will not support any policy that runs counter to its own national priorities. "Whether Georgia will join any resolution or take steps related to international politics is determined by only one criterion: whether it is in Georgia’s interests at that moment or not," Sharmanashvili said.

He added that if a decision contradicts those interests, "we do not care at all whose interests it serves afterwards," according to the IPN report.

The report by Interpressnews (IPN) highlighted that Georgia's decision reflects its independent foreign policy stance, prioritizing national interests over external pressures. The EU had recently imposed new sanctions on Iran, but Georgia's refusal marks a notable divergence from the bloc's position.

This development comes amid ongoing tensions between Iran and Western nations, with the United States and EU frequently coordinating sanctions against Tehran. Georgia's stance may have implications for its relations with both the EU and Iran, as it balances its aspirations for closer ties with Europe against its pragmatic national interests.