On Nov. 18, 2024, the European Union and Britain announced sanctions on Iran for supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine. Britain froze the assets of Iran’s national airline, Iran Air, in response to the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia. “Iran’s attempts to undermine global security are dangerous and unacceptable,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. “We reiterate our call on Iran to cease its support for Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine which continues to bring devastation to the Ukrainian people. We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
The European Union also cited Iranian support to militias in the Middle East and Red Sea region. It banned the export, transfer, supply or sale from the European Union to Iran of components used in missiles and drones. It also prohibited transactions with specific ports and locks, including Amirabad and Anzali, as well as one individual and four companies involved in arms transfers from Iran to Russia.
Iran denied that it had sent Russia ballistic missiles. Imposing sanctions "under this pretext are entirely unjustifiable and lack any legitimacy, legal basis, or logical foundation," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmail Baghaei said. The following are the British and E.U. press releases.
UK sanctions Iran for aiding Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, as Foreign Secretary chairs UN Security Council
Iran’s national airline, Iran Air, is today subject to an asset freeze which will further restrict its direct, scheduled commercial air services to and from the UK, following financial sanctions imposed by the UK government.
As a state-owned airline, Iran Air, is sanctioned in response to the Government of Iran’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia, following commitments outlined by the E3 in September.
The UK is also announcing sanctions against the state-owned national shipping carrier of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), and the Russian cargo ship, PORT OLYA-3 (IMO 9481910). These measures include an asset freeze and shipping sanctions respectively, taken against both entities for their role in supporting the Iranian defence sector or transporting weapons to Russia for use on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Today’s announcement comes as the Prime Minister prepares to mark 1,000 days since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine at the G20 tomorrow, and as the Foreign Secretary visits New York to chair the UN Security Council (UNSC).
The Foreign Secretary will address the UNSC and reiterate the UK’s ironclad commitment to Ukraine, and to securing a lasting peace in the Middle East.
In his meeting at the UN Security Council, Foreign Secretary David Lammy will say:
- "Iran’s attempts to undermine global security are dangerous and unacceptable."
- "Alongside our international partners, we were clear that any transfer of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia would face a significant response."
- "That’s why today we are sanctioning Iran Air and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, in response to Iran’s deliveries of ballistic missiles to Russia."
- "We reiterate our call on Iran to cease its support for Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine which continues to bring devastation to the Ukrainian people. We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes."
These measures follow initial steps taken by the UK government on 10 September in response to Iran’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia, which included the cancellation of the UK’s bilateral air services arrangements with Iran.
The UK also amended the Iran sanctions regime to strengthen trade sanctions on Iran, targeting items that are used in the production of ballistic missiles, UAVs and other weaponry.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said:
- "This government stands firmly with the people of Ukraine and we have been clear that any support for Russia’s illegal war will not be tolerated."
- "We will continue to use every lever at our disposal to put pressure on Iran to end the transfer of ballistic missiles and bring an end to this needless destruction."
Today’s sanctions follow action taken previously, alongside international partners, whereby the UK sanctioned key Iranian and Russian individuals and organisations for their role in facilitating Iran’s military support to Russia, including Russian cargo ships that transporting military supplies from Iran to Russia.
To date, the UK has sanctioned more than 450 Iranian individuals and entities, including those that seek to use malign influence regionally and internationally. 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.
Iran: EU widens restrictive measures in view of Iran support of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and lists one individual and four entities
The Council today decided to widen the scope of the EU framework for restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. This additional measure is targeted to the use of vessels and ports for the transfer of Iranian-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), missiles and related technologies and components.
Today’s decision introduces a prohibition on the export, transfer, supply, or sale from the EU to Iran of components used in the development and production of missiles and UAVs.
The EU is also introducing a transaction ban prohibiting any transaction with ports and locks that are owned, operated or controlled by listed individuals and entities, or are used for the transfer of Iranian UAVs or missiles or related technology and components to Russia. This measure includes the access to facilities of the ports and locks, such as Amirabad and Anzali, and the provision of any services to vessels. The latter should be understood with the exception of vessels in need of assistance for reasons of maritime safety, for humanitarian purposes, or in relation to events likely to have a serious impact on human health and safety or the environment.
Furthermore, the Council adopted restrictive measures against one individual and four entities following Iran’s missile and drone transfers to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine.
These designations include the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and his director Mohammad Reza Khiabani. IRISL is Iran's national maritime carrier, and for years its ships have been involved in shipping drones on behalf of the EU-listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.
The Council is also listing three Russian shipping companies - MG Flot, VTS Broker and Arapax- whose vessels are involved in transporting Iranian-made weapons and ammunition, including UAV components, across the Caspian Sea to resupply Russian troops fighting in Ukraine.