The European Union will soon introduce new sanctions against individuals and organizations involved in Iran's transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia. According to Reuters , two European diplomats and a high-ranking EU official confirmed these plans.
EU foreign ministers are expected to impose sanctions on 14 individuals and companies involved in the supply of missiles to the Russian Federation. Among them are airlines and other commercial organizations, although specific companies and individuals have not yet been named. According to unofficial information, one of the companies that will be subject to sanctions may be the national airline of Iran, Iran Air .
The issue of sanctions against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran's key military force, is currently open. The EU countries have not reached a unified position regarding the possible inclusion of the IRGC in the sanctions list, which may delay the adoption of a final decision.
Western intelligence indicates that Iran plans to transfer ballistic missiles to Russia, which is a serious increase in support for Moscow in its aggression against Ukraine. The EU emphasizes that such a step will be a "significant escalation" of Iranian support for Russia. At the same time, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denied reports of arms supplies to Russia, saying that his country had not transferred military resources since he took office in July. He also expressed the opinion that the conflict in Ukraine was allegedly provoked by NATO, which broke its promises not to expand to the east.
The introduction of sanctions can have a significant impact on Iranian-European relations, especially in the context of military support for Russia. The European Union has already repeatedly condemned Iran's participation in the war through the supply of drones to Russia, and now the focus is on the possible supply of missiles.
