Iran's Reaction to New EU Sanctions: 'Unjustified'

Ismail Baqaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, reacted on Tuesday to the new sanctions imposed by Europe and Britain against the Iranian government, deeming them 'based on false claims regarding missile transfers to Russia' and 'unjustified.' On Monday, November 28, Britain imposed sanctions against 'Iran Air' and the Iranian shipping company. According to the British government's statement, Iran Air and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines have been sanctioned, and their assets are subject to freezing. David Lammy, the British Foreign Secretary, stated: 'Iran's efforts to undermine global security are dangerous and unacceptable. We reiterate our call for the government to stop supporting Russia's illegal war in Ukraine.' Earlier, the European Union also sanctioned the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and its CEO, Mohammad Reza Modarres Khiyabani, in response to Iran's support for Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. The EU cited Iran's military support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine and armed groups in the Middle East and the Red Sea region as the reason for the intensified sanctions against Iran. The EU announced that the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines was involved in transferring Iranian-made weapons and ammunition, including drone parts, via the Caspian Sea to supply equipment to the Russian army in its war against Ukraine. Consequently, four entities, including the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and three Russian shipping companies, along with Mohammad Reza Modarres Khiyabani, were added to the new EU sanctions list. The EU also prohibited any transactions with ports owned, managed, or controlled by these individuals or entities, including all ports used for transferring drones, missiles, or Iranian parts and technologies to Russia. The new sanctions also prohibited access to port facilities and harbors such as Amirabad and Anzali. These sanctions target ships and ports involved in the transfer of Iranian-made drones, missiles, and related technology. Under these sanctions, the export, transfer, supply, or sale of components used in upgrading and manufacturing missiles and drones from the EU to Iran has been banned. On Monday, October 15, the EU had also imposed sanctions against the Iranian Deputy Minister of Defense, senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and three airlines for allegedly sending drones, missiles, and other equipment to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine. Reports indicated that the names of three airlines—Iran Air, Mahan Air, and Saha—and Seyyed Hamzeh Qalandari, the Iranian Deputy Minister of Defense, were among those sanctioned. The EU had stated that the aircraft of these companies were 'repeatedly used to transfer Iranian-made drones and related technologies to Russia,' which Russia employed in its 'aggressive war' against Ukraine. The sanctions against Iran Air in the EU raise the question of whether they harm the Iranian people or the Iranian government. Britain sanctioned 'Iran Air' and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. The US sanctioned 400 individuals and entities for supporting Russia's aggression against Ukraine. European and Israeli officials welcomed the EU's sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran.