EU and UK extend sanctions on Iran over support for Russia

The European Union and the United Kingdom announced on Monday, November 18, expanded sanctions against Iran, targeting its support for Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine. The measures, which include restrictions on Iranian shipping and ports, are aimed at disrupting the transfer of drones, missiles, and related technology to Russia.

The EU’s 27-nation bloc imposed a ban on exporting, transferring, or supplying components to Iran that are used in manufacturing missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Additionally, it prohibited transactions with Iranian ports owned or controlled by sanctioned individuals and entities, including the Caspian Sea ports of Amirabad and Anzali, which have been linked to supplying drones and missiles to Russia.

“This measure includes access to facilities of the ports and locks… and the provision of any services to vessels,” the EU stated during a meeting of its foreign ministers in Brussels. Assistance to vessels in distress will still be permitted under certain maritime safety exceptions.

The sanctions also extend to Iran’s state-run shipping company IRISL, its director Mohammad Reza Khiabani, and three Russian shipping firms accused of transporting weapons across the Caspian Sea. The EU had previously sanctioned Iranian airlines and officials alleged to have supported Russia’s war effort.

In parallel, the UK unveiled its own measures, freezing the assets of IRISL and Iran Air for reportedly transporting ballistic missiles and military equipment to Russia. Britain also barred the Russian cargo ship Port Olya-3, accused of ferrying missiles from Iran to Russia, from entering UK ports.

The British foreign ministry emphasized that these steps build on prior actions by the UK, France, and Germany (the so-called E3 powers) in response to Iran’s alleged supply of short-range missiles to Moscow.

Iran has rejected the accusations, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemning the sanctions as baseless. Araghchi called the EU’s actions “shortsighted” and warned of potential backlash. “Freedom of navigation is a basic principle of the law of the sea. When selectively applied… such behavior usually tends to boomerang,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that Tehran would determine its response to the new measures, describing them as another challenge to Iran’s already struggling economy. Iran has been under intense economic pressure since the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 and reinstated harsh sanctions.

The latest sanctions reflect growing Western efforts to curb Iran’s alleged role in supplying military technology to Russia, a partnership Tehran vehemently denies.