The UK, France, and Germany have implemented new sanctions against Iran for providing ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These measures coincide with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to London.
The sanctions include significant restrictions on Iran Air’s operations in the UK and Europe. Blinken emphasized that Russians have received training from Iranian personnel to operate these short-range missiles, which could be utilized against Ukrainian forces in a matter of weeks.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the Iranian missile deliveries as a “dangerous escalation,” facilitating Russia’s ongoing illegal invasion of Ukraine. He stated, “Iran must stop supporting Putin’s unprovoked and barbaric attack against a sovereign democratic state,” reinforcing the UK’s commitment to support Ukraine for as long as necessary.
During a joint news conference with Lammy, Blinken remarked that Russian President Putin is increasingly dependent on support from Iran and North Korea to sustain his military campaign against Ukraine.
The UK Foreign Office targeted specific individuals associated with missile supplies, including Iranian Brigadier General Seyed Hamzeh Ghalandari, who is responsible for defense exports. He has been subjected to a travel ban and an asset freeze, alongside two other Iranian officials.
Additionally, five Russian cargo vessels have been sanctioned for transporting military supplies from Iran, despite previous warnings from the UK regarding such activities. Several organizations involved in the production of Shahed drones, which have been used in attacks on Ukrainian cities, are also facing sanctions.
The three nations, collectively known as the E3, have urged Iran to cease all assistance to Russia in its war against Ukraine and to halt the development and transfer of ballistic missiles, labeling this supply as a “direct threat to European security.”
Blinken resonated with the E3’s message, noting that Iran’s destabilizing impact extends far beyond the Middle East. These latest sanctions arrive as Russian forces continue their offensive in eastern Ukraine, quickly approaching the strategic settlement of Pokrovsk, a critical transportation hub. Should Pokrovsk fall, it could sever a primary supply route for Ukrainian forces, necessitating a potential retreat from Chasiv Yar and bringing the front line closer to Kramatorsk.
The delivery of Iranian short-range missiles is expected to bolster Russia’s military capabilities, allowing them to utilize a larger share of their current armament for targets distant from the front line while reserving new missiles for closer engagements.
