The UK, France and Germany have announced new sanctions on Iran for supplying Russia with ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine.
Among the new measures, announced as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits London, are restrictions on Iran Air’s ability to fly to the UK and Europe.
Mr Blinken said the Russians had been trained by the Iranians to use short-range missiles and could be deployed against the Ukrainians within weeks.
His spokesman, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, said the deliveries to Iran marked a “dangerous escalation” that had allowed Russia to “escalate its illegal aggression in Ukraine”.
“Iran must stop supporting it [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s unrepentant, premeditated and barbaric attack on a democratic country, Mr Lammy said. “The UK will stand with Ukraine as long as it continues.”
Speaking earlier, alongside Mr Lammy at a press conference in London, Mr Blinken said Russian President Vladimir Putin was “relying heavily on support” from Iran and North Korea to help “fight his war of aggression in Ukraine”.
The UK Foreign Office also announced specific sanctions against several key individuals it said were heavily involved in the supply of missiles, including Iranian Brig Gen Seyed Hamzeh Ghalandari who orders the export of defense products to its allies. He was placed under a travel ban and asset freeze, along with two other Iranian officials.
Five Russian cargo ships have also been sanctioned, for transporting military equipment from Iran, despite the UK’s repeated warnings not to do so.
Meanwhile, many organizations, including those allegedly involved in the production of the Shahed drone – which Russia has used regularly to attack Ukrainian cities – have been punished.
In a statement, the UK, France and Germany – known as the E3 – called on Iran “to immediately stop all support for Russia’s war with Ukraine and stop the development and transfer of its ballistic missiles”.
They added that Iran’s supply of missiles represented a “direct threat to European security”.
Mr Blinken echoed the E3 statement, saying the move “shows how Iran’s disturbing influence extends beyond the Middle East”.
The Western sanctions come as Russia continues to make gains in eastern Ukraine, with Moscow’s forces rapidly closing in on the key Pokrovsk region.
Pokrovsk is the main transportation hub. If it falls, then Russian forces will cut off one of the main supply routes to the region. This may force Ukraine to retreat from Chasiv Yar and the front line will approach Kramatorsk.
The delivery of Iranian short-range missiles will help Russia move forward, Mr Blinken said, by allowing Moscow to use its existing arsenal for long-range targets, while retaining new missiles for closer range.
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