US sanctions Iran’s main airline in retaliation for sending ballistic missiles to Russia

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September 10 () –

The US government announced on Tuesday a new set of sanctions targeting Iran’s main airline, Iran Air, in retaliation for the recent shipment of ballistic missiles to Russia in the context of the war in Ukraine.

“The United States and our allies have taken joint action in response to Iran’s reckless decision to send ballistic missiles to Russia for use in its war of aggression against Ukraine,” the Treasury Department said in a statement.

The US State Department, for its part, has stated that “the growing military partnership between Iran and Russia threatens European security and demonstrates how Iran’s destabilising influence extends beyond the Middle East.”

“The United States will continue to use all tools at our disposal to disrupt and counter Iran’s arms exports, with particular attention to transfers that support Russia’s war on Ukraine,” the statement said.

Iran Air has been sanctioned for “materially contributing to the supply, sale or transfer,” either directly or indirectly, of weapons or similar military materiel — including spare parts — for the benefit of Tehran and the Russian economy.

“Iran Air constitutes a key element of Iran’s illicit proliferation network that enables the acquisition of sensitive Western-origin dual-use materials for use in the development of drones, some of which are provided to Russia for use in Ukraine,” the State Department said.

The United States has also sanctioned a number of Russian and Iranian officials and companies for their links to the delivery of components or weapons, including drones and short-range ballistic missiles, to Moscow. It has also identified four ships that enabled such actions.

The United States accuses Iran of supplying Russia with dozens of missiles with a range of about 120 kilometers, so that they can be used to attack targets at short range and so that Russian forces can use their own arsenal for bombings further away from the front line.

The UK government published a statement on Tuesday together with France and Germany condemning the missile shipment and stressing that it “is a direct threat to European security”, also anticipating a new series of punishments.

The three powers, which were negotiators of the failed 2015 nuclear deal, have confirmed that they will adopt new sanctions – also against Iran Air – and cancel with “immediate” effect bilateral agreements on air services with Tehran.