According to Bloomberg, the EU is considering imposing sanctions on Iran for providing ballistic missiles to Russia during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This move comes after the US confirmed in September that Tehran had supplied Moscow with short-range Fath-360 missiles, further strengthening their military cooperation.
In response, Kyiv, Washington, and other Western countries have already imposed economic restrictions on Iran, which is already facing heavy sanctions for its nuclear program and support of militant groups in the Middle East. The proposed EU sanctions would target around a dozen individuals and entities, including companies involved in engineering, metals, and aviation.
The EU summit in Brussels, scheduled for Oct. 16-18, is expected to approve this package. However, sources say that this is just the first step and more listings are being considered. Russia and Iran have been strengthening their military and political ties since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Tehran has provided Moscow with thousands of Shahed kamikaze drones, which have been used in attacks against Ukraine.
Despite these developments, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denied supporting Russia’s invasion during a U.N. meeting in September and refuted claims of supplying ballistic missiles. However, Ukraine’s military reported on Sept. 29 that they had destroyed a Russian arsenal in Volgograd Oblast, which had allegedly received a shipment of Iranian missiles shortly before the strike.
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