Iran Sanctioned for Sending Missiles to Russia to Support Ukraine War
Britain, France and Germany have announced new sanctions on Iran for supplying ballistic missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine.
Among the new measures announced as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited London were restrictions on Iran Air’s ability to fly to the UK and Europe.
Mr Blinken said the Russians had been trained by Iran to use short-range missiles and they could deploy them against Ukraine within weeks.
The host, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, said the Iranian arms transfer marked a “dangerous escalation” that would allow Russia to “continue its illegal invasion of Ukraine”.
“Iran must stop supporting [Russian President Vladimir] “Putin’s unprovoked, deliberate and barbaric attack on a sovereign democratic country,” Mr Lammy added. “The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary.”
Speaking earlier, alongside Mr Lammy at a press conference in London, Mr Blinken said Russian President Vladimir Putin was “increasingly relying on support” from Iran and North Korea to help “wage his war of aggression against Ukraine”.
The UK Foreign Office also announced specific sanctions against a number of key individuals it said were deeply involved in the supply of missiles, including Iranian Brigadier General Seyed Hamzeh Ghalandari, who oversees the country’s defence exports to partners. He was subject to a travel ban and asset freeze, along with two other Iranian officials.
Five Russian cargo ships have also been sanctioned for transporting military supplies from Iran, despite repeated warnings from Britain not to do so.
Meanwhile, several entities, including some allegedly involved in the production of Shahed drones – which Russia has frequently used in attacks on Ukrainian cities – have been sanctioned.
In a statement, Britain, France and Germany – known as the E3 – called on Iran to “immediately cease all support for Russia’s war against Ukraine and stop the development and transfer of ballistic missiles”.
They added that Iran’s missile supply was a “direct threat to European security”.
Mr Blinken agreed with the E3 statement, saying the move “demonstrates that Iran’s destabilizing influence has spread beyond the Middle East”.
The Western sanctions come as Russia continues to make gains in eastern Ukraine, with Moscow’s forces rapidly advancing on the key settlement of Pokrovsk.
Pokrovsk is an important transport hub. If it falls, Russian forces will cut off one of the main supply routes in the region. This would likely force Ukraine to retreat from Chasiv Yar and move the front line closer to Kramatorsk.
Iran’s transfer of short-range missiles would complement Russia’s advance by allowing Moscow to use more of its existing arsenal on targets farther from the front line, while reserving new missiles for closer-range targets, Blinken said.
