The United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Iran’s national airline and transporter on Monday. According to Reuters, these measures were taken in response to Iran’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia.
State-owned Iran Air and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) will face an asset freeze over their role in supplying weapons to Russia for battlefield use against Ukraine, Britain said.
“Iran’s attempts to undermine global security are dangerous and unacceptable,” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. “We reiterate our call on Iran to end its support for Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.”
The sanctions will further restrict Iran Air’s direct commercial air services to and from the United Kingdom.
Britain has also imposed sanctions on the Russian cargo ship PORT OLYA-3 over its role in transporting military supplies to Russia.
Meanwhile, the European Union has expanded its sanctions on Iran over Tehran’s support for Russia in its war with Ukraine, the European Commission said on Monday.
The Commission said it had added, among others, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its director Mohammad Reza Khiabani to its sanctions list.
The new sanctions target ships and ports used to transport Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missiles and related technologies and components. They include banning any transaction with ports and locks owned, operated or controlled by the sanctioned persons and entities.
“The Council today decided to extend the scope of the EU framework for restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and for armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. This additional measure targets the use of ships and ports for the transfer of Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missiles and related technologies and components,” the EU said in a press release.
“Today’s decision introduces a ban on the export, transfer, supply or sale from the EU to Iran of components used in the development and production of missiles and UAVs,” it added.
(With input from agencies)
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Prapti Upadhayay
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