Reuters: The European Union Plans to Respond to Iran's Military Support for Russia with 'New and Significant Measures'

European Union leaders are preparing to implement 'new and significant measures' against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Reuters reports that a draft conclusion from the upcoming EU summit indicates this. These new measures are related to reports suggesting that the Islamic Republic may send ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine. The draft seen by Reuters states: 'The European Council calls on third parties to immediately cease providing material support for Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine.' Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Islamic Republic has deepened its ties with Moscow. Six sources previously told Reuters that the Iranian government has provided a large number of powerful ground-to-ground ballistic missiles to Russia. The draft conclusion for the summit, scheduled for April 2-3 (March 21-22), states: 'The reports that Iran may transfer ballistic missiles and related technology for use against Ukraine are very concerning.' The draft states: 'The EU is ready for a rapid and coordinated response with international partners, including new and significant actions against Iran.' The summary also mentions that leaders want Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, and the European Commission to prepare additional sanctions against Belarus, North Korea, and Iran. France, Germany, and the UK maintained ballistic missile and nuclear proliferation sanctions against Iran last September, which were set to expire in October under the 2015 nuclear agreement (JCPOA). Officials at that time stated that this decision was largely due to Russia's use of Iranian drones against Ukraine and the potential transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia. Grant Shapps, the UK Defense Minister, stated earlier this month in an interview with House magazine that London has information regarding the provision of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia. He said: 'I cannot go into (details) on that.' Shapps noted: 'Whether it is ballistic missiles or the Shahed drones they have supplied to Russia, we have seen that if there is a problem in the world, Iran often helps with that or, in this case, contributes to the supply chain (increasing problems).' Iranian officials initially denied the export of Shahed 136 drones to Russia. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian Foreign Minister, later stated that his government provided a limited number before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Islamic Republic is also accused of supplying weapons to Houthi rebels who have made maritime trade unsafe, and its relations with the West have been tense over its support for non-state armed groups in the Middle East and uranium enrichment. CENTCOM shot down four missiles and four drones from Houthi forces supported by the Iranian government. The CENTCOM commander stated that the Islamic Republic has turned the Middle East into a 'hub of crises.' The US Treasury Secretary stated that not approving aid to Ukraine is a gift to Putin and the Islamic Republic. The Indian Navy transferred the crew of a ship damaged in a deadly Houthi attack to Djibouti.