Western European countries are pushing to curtail diplomatic ties with Iran over the nation's involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.
According to Kan public broadcaster, diplomatic meetings between officials from the unnamed countries and their Iranian counterparts have almost stopped, following Iran's supply of attack drones to Russia.
On Monday, the European Union introduced new sanctions on 20 Iranian officials over the crackdown on anti-government protesters. It also targeted experts believed to have provided Russia with explosive drones. Iran has executed two people for crimes committed during the protests.
The European Union has accused Iran of providing Russia with drones that have been used to attack Ukrainian infrastructure and civilians. In response, the EU has imposed sanctions on 20 Iranian individuals and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, which it described as a "mouthpiece" for the "violent response to the recent demonstrations in Iran". The sanctions include travel bans to Europe and the freezing of assets.
The move is the latest in a series of actions taken by the EU in response to Iran's involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. Last month, the bloc imposed sanctions on the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and the guard's Aerospace Force, as well as a company that makes drones that the EU says Russia has used in Ukraine.
The EU has also attempted to mediate talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which unraveled after the US withdrew in 2018. However, attempts to reach an agreement that would bring the US back into the deal while also limiting Iran's nuclear activities have so far been unsuccessful.
