By Pishtaz | 2024-11-21

The Iranian regime's support for Russia's war on Ukraine is the target of a new round of European Union (EU) and British sanctions, rolled out November 18, that focus on the vessels and ports used to transfer drones and missiles.

The sanctions also target the Iranian regime's support for armed groups and entities in the Middle East and Red Sea region.

These follow a previous tranche of US sanctions targeting individuals and companies that helped to procure weapons for the Iran-backed Houthis and assisted with the Iranian regime's ballistic missile and drone programs.

With the new sanctions, the EU is prohibiting the export, transfer, supply or sale of components used to make missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, from its territory to Iran.

It is banning any transaction with ports, such as Amirabad and Anzali on the Caspian Sea, "owned, operated or controlled" by sanctioned individuals and entities or used to supply Russia with drones, missiles and related materials.

This measure includes access to facilities of the ports and locks, and the provision of any services to vessels, except in certain circumstances.

The 27-member bloc also blacklisted Iran's national maritime carrier -- state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) -- and its director Mohammad Reza Khiabani.

IRISL vessels have been involved in shipping drones on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy for some time, the EU said.

Three Russian shipping companies also came under EU censure.

MG Flot, VTS Broker and Arapax "are involved in transporting Iranian-made weapons and ammunition, including UAV components, across the Caspian Sea to resupply Russian troops fighting in Ukraine," the bloc said.

Parallel sanctions

The United Kingdom meanwhile announced it was freezing IRISL assets and national airline Iran Air for transporting ballistic missiles and military supplies to Russia for use in Ukraine.

Iran Air is one of three Iranian airlines -- including Saha Airlines and Mahan Air -- the EU sanctioned in October in connection with the Iranian regime's missile and drone transfers to Russia.

The United States blacklisted Iranian cargo airline Pouya Air in May for facilitating the sale of military drones to Russia for its war against Ukraine.

The United Kingdom also blocked Russian cargo ship Port Olya-3, sanctioned for carrying missiles from Iran to Russia, from entering any British port.

"To date, the UK has sanctioned more than 450 Iranian individuals and entities, including those that seek to use malign influence regionally and internationally," British Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said in a statement.

"The UK has also sanctioned 2,100 individuals and entities under the Russia sanctions regime, with over 1,900 designated since the start of Putin’s full-scale invasion," she added.

"The UK is clear that Iran must stop supporting Putin’s unprovoked, premeditated and barbaric attack against a sovereign democratic state, and that we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," she said.