EU sanctions Iran over alleged missile transfers to Russia

In response to the alleged transferring of missiles and drones to Russia, the European Union has imposed sanctions on more than a dozen Iranians and businesses, including the nation’s deputy defense minister and national airline.

The European Council announced on Monday that seven individuals and as many as seven other individuals would be subject to a travel ban and asset freeze as a result of their involvement in the Russian military’s campaign against Ukraine.

Those targeted include Iranian Deputy Defence Minister Seyed Hamzeh Ghalandari, high-ranking members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ‘ Quds Force, and three Iranian airlines, including Iran Air.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, welcomed the sanctions.

Von der Leyen wrote in a post on X that “the Iranian regime’s support of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is unacceptable and must stop.”

“It is therefore gratifying that our sanctions against people and organizations were put in place in response to Iran’s sending of drones and missiles to Russia. More is needed”.

Andrii Sybiha, the country’s foreign minister, wrote on X that those who “support aggression must share responsibility and pay the price.”

On Tuesday, spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmail Baghaei, disputed Iran’s claim that Tehran had supplied Russian missiles and that the sanctions were against international law.

“Some European nations and the UK have, regrettably, asserted without any proof that Iran has militarily fought this conflict,” according to Baghaei.

The United States announced last month that it had information that suggested Iran had used ballistic missiles against Ukraine, prompting the most recent sanctions.

Tehran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, at the time, denied any weapons transfers to Russia since his administration’s inception in August, citing the possibility that there had been one since then.