By Pishtaz | 2024-10-23

The European Union (EU) on October 14 imposed sanctions on seven individuals and seven entities, including three airlines, in connection with the Iranian regime's missile and drone transfers to Russia.

The new designation targets those responsible for the development and transfer of drones, missiles and related technology to Russia in support of its war against Ukraine and to armed groups undermining Middle East peace and security.

Three Iranian airlines -- Saha Airlines, Mahan Air and Iran Air -- and two procurement firms transferred and supplied, via transnational procurement networks, Iranian-made drones, related components and technologies to Russia.

Two of the blacklisted companies helped produce propellant used to launch rockets and missiles, the European Council said in a statement.

Sanctions have been imposed on Iranian deputy defense minister Seyed Hamzeh Ghalandari and prominent Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF) officials.

Also listed are the managing directors of Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries (HESA) and Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), along with IRGC Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters and IRGC Aerospace Force Space Division.

The United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany adopted similar sanctions in September over Iranian missile transfers to Russia, AFP reported.

And in April, the United States designated Iranian cargo airline Pouya Air for facilitating the sale of military drones to Russia for its war against Ukraine.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the adoption of the sanctions by the entire bloc, while adding: "More is needed."

"The Iranian regime's support to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is unacceptable and must stop," she posted on X.

Prior warning

In a September statement, the EU strongly condemned the transfer of Iranian-made ballistic missiles to Russia, "considered as a direct threat to European security."

The transfer amounted to "a substantive material escalation from the provision of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ammunition, which Russia had used in its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine," it said.

In May, the EU broadened its sanctions framework in view of Iranian military support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine to cover both drones and missiles.

It also extended the framework to cover Iranian drone and missile program support for armed groups and entities in the Middle East and Red Sea region.

In March, the European Council warned that if the Iranian regime were to transfer ballistic missiles and related technology to Russia for use against Ukraine, the EU and its partners would be prepared to respond swiftly.

It also stated that Russia's access to sensitive items and technologies with battlefield relevance must be restricted to the maximum extent possible, including by targeting entities in third countries enabling this circumvention.