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Iran has criticized new sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United Kingdom over Supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Let’s bring you up to speed: Yesterday, the United Kingdom, along with the European Union, implemented a series of sanctions targeting Iran’s state-owned shipping company, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), and national airline, Iran Air, as well as additional Iranian and Russian entities. These measures were introduced in response to Iran transferring ballistic missiles, drones, and related components to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine. The sanctions include asset freezes, restrictions on maritime trade, and bans on financial dealings with the designated entities, effectively limiting their ability to operate internationally. The rollout of these sanctions is part of a broader effort to deter Iran’s military support for Russia.
What Iran is saying: Iran has condemned the sanctions, dismissing them as unjustified and based on false claims. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei described the measures as “entirely unjustifiable and lacking any legitimacy, legal basis, or logical foundation.” He argued that the sanctions violate international law, including the freedom of navigation and maritime trade, and stated they undermine the rights of Iranian citizens. Baghaei further pointed out that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had acknowledged that “no Iranian ballistic missiles have been exported to Russia,” labeling the sanctions as baseless provocations.
What the UK is saying: In a statement, UK 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.”
Haigh added, “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.”
