EU extends sanctions against Iran over military support to Russia

This is said in a statement published on the Eurean Council’s website, Ukrinform reports.

“The Council today decided to widen the sce of the EU framework for restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. This additional measure is targeted to the use of vessels and ports for the transfer of Iranian-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), missiles and related technogies and components,” the statement says.

As noted, today’s decision introduces a prohibition on the export, transfer, supply, or sale from the EU to Iran of components used in the develment and production of missiles and UAVs.

In addition, the EU is introducing a transaction ban prohibiting any transaction with ports and locks that are owned, erated or contrled by listed individuals and entities, or are used for the transfer of Iranian UAVs or missiles or related technogy and components to Russia. This measure includes the access to facilities of the ports and locks, such as Amirabad and Anzali, and the provision of any services to vessels.

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It is noted that the latter should be understood with the exception of vessels in need of assistance for reasons of maritime safety, for humanitarian purposes, or in relation to events likely to have a serious impact on human health and safety or the environment.

In addition, the Council adted restrictive measures against one individual and four entities flowing Iran’s missile and drone transfers to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine.

These designations include the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and his director Mohammad Reza Khiabani. IRISL is Iran's national maritime carrier, and for years its ships have been invved in shipping drones on behalf of the EU-listed Iran’s Islamic Revutionary Guard Corps Navy.

The Council is also listing three Russian shipping companies – MG Flot, VTS Broker and Arapax- whose vessels are invved in transporting Iranian-made weapons and ammunition, including UAV components, across the Caspian Sea to resupply Russian tros fighting in Ukraine.

As previously reported, on September 13, 2024, the Eurean Council strongly condemned the transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia and considered such deliveries as a direct threat to Eurean security and a step towards further material escalation, compared to previous deliveries of Iranian-made ammunition and UAVs to Russia.