The European Union on Monday announced an expansion of sanctions against Iran following its longstanding support for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
The new sanctions include targeting vessels and ports involved in the transfer of drones and missiles.
The 27-nation group has decided to ban any deal with ports used to transport Iranian drones, missiles or Russian-linked technology and components, it said in a statement during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
Meanwhile, Britain also announced new sanctions earlier Monday against the Iranian airline, the Iranian shipping company and the Russian ship Port Olya-3, according to an update from the British government.
The EU’s new measures prohibit any transactions with ports owned or controlled by sanctioned individuals or entities involved in these transfers.
However, the EU clarified that assistance could still be provided to vessels in distress, in accordance with maritime safety laws.
In addition to targeting ports, Brussels has sanctioned Iran’s state-run shipping company, IRISL, and its director, Mohammad Reza Khiabani, as well as three Russian shipping firms accused of transporting weapons across the Caspian Sea to Russia.
These actions followed earlier sanctions on Iranian officials and airlines suspected of aiding Russia’s war effort.
The UK has also taken action, freezing the assets of IRISL and Iran Air, which has been accused of transporting ballistic missiles and military equipment to Russia.
The British government has further banned the Russian cargo vessel Port Olya-3 from entering any UK port.
These moves by the EU and UK build on earlier sanctions imposed by the E3 powers (UK, France, and Germany) in response to Iran’s alleged supply of short-range missiles to Russia.
Iran rejects Western accusations it has transferred missiles or drones to Moscow for use against Kyiv.
Ahead of the new sanctions’ announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that the EU was using the “non-existent missile pretext” to target its shipping lines.
“There is no legal, logical or moral basis for such behaviour. If anything, it will only compel what it ostensibly seeks to prevent,” Araghchi wrote on X.
“Freedom of navigation is a basic principle of the law of the sea. When selectively applied by some, such shortsightedness usually tends to boomerang.”
The sanctions came at a difficult time for Iran, which is already struggling under US sanctions imposed after Washington’s 2018 withdrawal from the nuclear deal.
Iran’s economy continues to face significant pressure, and the government has warned that it will carefully consider its response to the new measures.
