The European Union and the United Kingdom announced on November 18, 2024, that they are expanding sanctions against Iran in response to its support for Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.
These measures target Iranian shipping and ports, aiming to disrupt the flow of drones, missiles, and related technologies to Russia.
The EU’s sanctions include a ban on exporting or supplying components used to manufacture missiles and drones to Iran.
Additionally, it prohibits transactions with Iranian ports controlled by sanctioned individuals and entities, including the Caspian Sea ports of Amirabad and Anzali, which have been linked to the supply of drones and missiles to Russia.
The EU also restricted access to port facilities and services for vessels, although exceptions will be made for vessels in distress under maritime safety rules.
Further sanctions extend to Iran’s state-owned shipping company, IRISL, its director Mohammad Reza Khiabani, and three Russian shipping firms accused of transporting weapons across the Caspian Sea. The EU had previously sanctioned Iranian airlines and officials accused of supporting Russia’s war effort.
In a parallel move, the UK imposed its own measures, freezing the assets of IRISL and Iran Air, which were reportedly involved in transporting ballistic missiles and military equipment to Russia.
The UK also barred the Russian cargo ship Port Olya-3, suspected of ferrying missiles from Iran to Russia, from entering UK ports. The British government emphasized that these sanctions build on previous actions taken by the UK, France, and Germany in response to Iran’s alleged missile transfers to Moscow.
Iran has rejected these accusations, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemning the sanctions as unfounded. Araghchi described the EU’s actions as “shortsighted” and warned of potential repercussions, stressing that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei indicated that Tehran would assess its response to these new sanctions, viewing them as another blow to Iran’s already struggling economy. The country has been facing severe economic pressure since the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and reinstated stringent sanctions.
These new sanctions reflect growing Western efforts to curb Iran’s alleged role in supplying military technology to Russia, a partnership Iran denies.
