Georgia Refuses to Implement European Union Sanctions Against Iran

The Government of Georgia officially refused to implement the latest European Union sanctions package targeting Iran. The decision aligns Georgia with other EU candidate nations, including Turkey and Serbia, that opted out of the measures.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the sanctions package to target Iranian military support for armed groups in Russia, West Asia, and the Red Sea, while adding new listings for individuals accused of human rights violations. While nine countries and several European Economic Area members adopted the measures, Georgia's refusal highlights a trend of declining alignment with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, which fell from 53 percent in 2024 to 40 percent by October 2025.

Tengiz Sharmanashvili, a member of parliament for the ruling Georgian Dream party, defended the move by stating that Georgia only supports international measures when they serve the country's specific interests at the time. The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the EU's sanctions as irrational and unlawful.