The US imposed new sanctions against Iran for supplying Russia with ballistic missiles
Major Iranian commercial airlines have come under US sanctions for their role in supplying Russia with weapons and components for its war against Ukraine.
Great Britain, France and Germany have also imposed restrictions on Iran Air’s activities on their territory.
“We are taking immediate steps to cancel bilateral agreements on air transport with Iran,” said a joint statement by the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany.
The statement also says that the sanctions list also includes important institutions connected with the transfer of ballistic missiles and other weapons to Russia.
Ships, ten people and three organizations have also come under the new US sanctions. The US government accuses these individuals and organizations of supplying Russia with weapons, components, UAVs and short-range ballistic missiles.
Iran and Russia have signed a contract to supply hundreds of missiles by the end of 2023, according to the US government. Russia received the first delivery of short-range ballistic missiles from Iran in September 2024, the US Treasury Department said in a statement. In addition, the message says, in the summer of 2024, Russian military personnel underwent training in Iran.
“Iran has decided to intensify its participation in Russia’s illegal war,” said the US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adejemo.
The official added: “Today, the United States and our allies are taking joint action in response to Iran’s reckless decision to provide Russia with ballistic missiles for use in a war of aggression against Ukraine, despite international community restrictions: imposed in response to the provision of attack UAVs to Russia and the overwhelming evidence of destruction civil infrastructure caused by Russia’s use of such UAVs”.
Adviser on communications in the field of national security of the White House John Kirby told the press on Tuesday that Russia plans to use Iranian missiles against Ukrainian civilians “in the coming weeks.”
He emphasized that although Russia has its own ballistic missiles, the supply of Iranian short-range missiles up to 75 miles (120 km, – ed.) allows Russia to fire at the territory of Ukraine further away from its borders.
The advantage of such missiles is their high speed, which is why, according to Kirby, the latest aid package to Ukraine included additional air defense capabilities.
And Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is working with partners within the Ramstein Group to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot missiles to counter this very threat, Kirby added.
Iran denies arms supplies to Russia.
