Iran criticises new sanctions in retaliation for sending ballistic missiles to Russia

Tehran denies the transfers and claims that the US and its allies are “responsible for genocide” in Gaza by supplying weapons to Israel

September 11 () –

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Naser Kanani has criticized the United States for a new set of sanctions targeting Iran’s main airline, Iran Air, and for the statement condemning the recent shipment of ballistic missiles to Russia in the Ukraine war.

“The dissemination of false and misleading information about the transfer of Iranian weapons to certain countries is nothing but a vile propaganda ploy and a blatant lie aimed at concealing the vast and illegal arms support provided by the United States and some Western countries to the genocide in the Gaza Strip,” the spokesman said in a statement.

In this regard, he said that both the United States and its allies are “responsible for genocide” and Israeli “war crimes” in Gaza due to shipments of bombs and other types of deadly weapons.

“There is no doubt that the continued supply of arms and the reinforcement of the machinery of genocide and war crimes of the Zionist regime by the United States and certain Western countries contradicts the clear commitments of the international community to prevent and punish the perpetrators of genocide, as stipulated in the 1948 Genocide Convention. Under this convention, States have a clear responsibility to prevent genocide, punish those responsible and ensure that their weapons are not used to commit genocide,” he added.

Kanani also said the Israeli military had set a “world record for brutality and savagery” by dropping an average of “36 kilograms of bombs on each Palestinian resident” in the enclave.

The United States has accused Iran of supplying Russia with dozens of missiles with a range of about 120 kilometres, so that they can be used to attack targets at short range and so that Russian forces can draw on their own arsenal for bombings further away from the front line. Britain, France and Germany have condemned the shipment, stressing that it “is a direct threat to European security”, and 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.