The EU Council is expanding the scope of restrictive measures against Iran's military support for Russia's war in Ukraine and armed groups in the Middle East and Red Sea region. The additional measure taken today in Brussels concerns the use of ships and ports to transfer unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missiles and related technologies and components of Iranian manufacture. In particular, a ban is introduced on the export, transfer, supply or sale from the EU to Iran of components used in the development and production of missiles and drones.
The EU has also decided to prohibit any transactions with ports owned, managed or controlled by listed persons and entities, or used for the transfer of Iranian drones or missiles or related technologies and components to Russia. The measure includes access to port facilities, such as Amirabad and Anzali, and the provision of any services to ships, with some well-defined exceptions.
In addition, the Council adopted restrictive measures against one individual and four entities. The measures hit the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (Irisl) and its director Mohammad Reza Khiabani. Irisl is Iran's national shipping company and for years its ships have been involved in shipping drones on behalf of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, which is on the EU lists. The Council also lists three Russian shipping companies (Mg Flot, Vts Broker and Arapax) whose ships are involved in transporting Iranian-made weapons and ammunition, including drone components, across the Caspian Sea to supply Russian troops fighting in Ukraine.
