EU impose new restrictive measures to Iran due to supply unmanned aerial vehicles to Russia

Yesterday, the European Council imposed restrictive measures against 6 persons and 5 entities involved in Iran’s development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) used in Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

These are the first listings under the newly established framework for restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. They complement the previous four rounds of listings on Iranian drones already adopted under other sanctions regimes.

The new listings include the company Shakad Sanat Asmari, its CEO, deputy CEO and chief scientist; other companies manufacturing components for UAVs, namely Baharestan Kish Company and its managing director, Saad Sazeh Faraz Sharif and its CEO, as well as Sarmad Electronic Sepahan Company, offering aerospace engineering services, and companies helping Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF) improve the UAV programme (Kimia Part Sivan Company).

Those targeted will be subject to an asset freeze and travel ban to the European Union. Additionally, the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies listed is prohibited.

The relevant legal acts, including the names of the listed individuals and entities, have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

European Parliament adopted three resolutions on human rights issues in Iran, Niger and Georgia

Background

In its conclusions of 12 December 2022, the Council strongly condemned and considered unacceptable any type of military support by Iran, including deliveries of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. The weapons provided by Iran are being used indiscriminately by Russia against Ukraine’s civilian population and infrastructure, causing horrendous destruction and human suffering.

This UAV programme is run by the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which are both under EU restrictive measures in relation to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and includes the procurement, development, production and transfer of UAVs, notably to Russia. It is based on State-owned as well as private companies and benefits from domestic research capabilities.

On 20 July 2023, the Council established a new framework for restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which prohibits the export from the European Union to Iran of components used in the construction and production of UAVs, and provides for travel restrictions and asset freeze measures to be imposed against persons responsible for, supporting or involved in Iran’s UAV’s programme.

SOURCE: PRESS RELEASE – EUROPEAN COUNCIL