What could new US sanctions on Iran entail?

Genie Godula is pleased to welcome Samantha de Bendern, Associate Fellow at Chatham House, author, and political risk and financial consultant. Europe is taking increasingly consequential steps to support Ukraine, but de Bendern warns that they remain insufficient to address the country's fundamental vulnerability. The transfer of interceptor missiles and the prospect of producing Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles domestically represent significant shifts, particularly as US Patriot stocks become increasingly constrained. Yet the larger question is whether Ukraine's allies are prepared to move beyond supplying weapons towards actively helping to protect Ukrainian airspace. That debate reaches back to the earliest weeks of the full-scale invasion: even after President Biden warned in 2022 of an imminent Russian attack, Kyiv's allies ruled out enforcing a no-fly zone, fearing that direct engagement between NATO and Russian forces could escalate into a wider war with Moscow.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday warned that Tehran would respond harshly to expanded US sanctions, including measures against countries it sees as cooperating with Washington. The prospect of expanded sanctions comes after weeks of impasse, with the United States having not yet dislodged Iran’s grip on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

French centre-left politician Raphael Glucksmann announced his candidacy for France's presidential election next year, joining a crowded field of far-right figures, centrists and fellow left-wingers. Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon is planning to stand while Greens leader Marine Tondelier is campaigning while pregnant, socialist Party (PS) leader Olivier Faure and even possibly ex-president Francois Hollande are also mulling runs.