TEHRAN - The Germany-Iran Chamber of Commerce spoke out against new sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic in response to its legitimate attack on Israel.

"As always, calls for new sanctions come fast, but they serve to mask Europe's lack of influence rather than be part of a solution," according to a letter sent to members and friends of the German-Iranian Chamber of Commerce seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

The "special relationship" that once existed between Germany and Iran has neither been maintained nor cultivated by Berlin, leading to a loss of influence, said the chamber, with the "key players still in Washington and increasingly Beijing."

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday that some member states had asked for sanctions against Iran to be expanded and that the bloc's diplomatic service would begin working on the proposal.

Bilateral trade between Germany and Iran had fallen significantly last year, with German exports slumping by more than 24 percent to 1.2 billion euros ($1.28 billion), while imports from Iran decreased by 18 percent to 247 million euros.

The United States and United Kingdom in a coordinated move have imposed new widespread sanctions on Iran after Tehran's recent retaliatory operation against Israel.

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron announced these sanctions at a meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers in Italy on Thursday; four days after Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at the occupied territories in response to Israel’s terrorist attack against the Islamic Republic’s diplomatic premises in Syria.

During the weekend, Iran exercised its inherent right of self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and conducted a large-scale retaliatory operation that involved firing over 300 missiles and drones at military sites in the occupied lands.

Iran hit a large intelligence base in the occupied lands and Israel’s Nevatim Airbase, from where an F-35 jet took off to target Iran’s consulate in Damascus.

Some European countries made irresponsible statements regarding Iran's legitimate response to the Israeli crime in Syria that violated all international obligations and conventions.

Toeing the U.S.'s sanction line against Iran, the EU has over the past years imposed several packages of illegal bans on Iranian individuals and entities under different guises.

This adds to the 400-plus sanctions already imposed on Iran. In 2023 alone, the UK made 154 new designations.

They consist of an asset freeze, a travel ban to the EU, and a prohibition to make funds or economic resources available to those listed.

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