The European Union condemned Iran’s military partnership with Russia on Monday as a flagrant violation of international law and announced new sanctions against eight Iranian individuals and organizations over their role their role in delivering drones that Moscow has used to attack Ukrainian infrastructure and civilians.
The European Council, the EU’s top decision-making body, said the Iranian-made drones had been used “indiscriminately against Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure, cause terrible devastation and human suffering”. statement widely condemned Iran’s human rights record.
According to US officials, Russia has deployed Iranian-made drones in Ukraine since August, using them to attack infrastructure as well as military targets. On Saturday, Russian forces used Iranian drones to knock down more power 1.5 million people in the port city of Odesa, far from the front lines.
The four individuals facing new EU sanctions include the commander-in-chief of Iran’s Air Force, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard’s weapons research and development unit and an officer. Revolutionary Guards, who organized a drone demonstration for Russian forces in August.
Entities added to the sanctions list include what the European Council describes as a “front company” involved in the development of drones used by Russia, as well as a company the association is using. The council claims to have produced unmanned aircraft engines.
The bloc has previously imposed sanctions on Iranians over drone deliveries. In OctoberThe EU has imposed restrictions on the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s air force, and Shahed Aviation Industries, the company responsible for the design and development of the drone. drive.
More than 1,350 individuals and organizations has been subject to an asset freeze and travel ban by the EU since 2014 for actions that “undermine the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine”.
Iran’s military support for Russia has come under international scrutiny in recent weeks, although the Kremlin has denied using Iranian-made drones to attack civilians and Tehran. asserts that all drone deliveries took place before Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
The Biden administration announced on Friday that the two countries are forming a “Comprehensive Defense Partnership” that is expected to intensify in the coming months, while British officials warn that Russia is currently seeking hundreds of ballistic weapons from Iran in exchange for an “unprecedented level of technical and military assistance.” ever had”.
The European Union strongly advised Iran on Monday that any new arms deliveries to Russia, and in particular any move towards the supply of short-range ballistic weapons, would be considered “a serious escalation”.
