The Council decides to extend the scope of the EU framework for restrictive measures with regard to Iran's military support for Russia's offensive war against Ukraine and armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. This additional measure targets the use of vessels and ports for the transfer of Iranian-made drones, missiles and related technology and components.
Today's decision introduces Prohibition of export, transfer, supply or sale of components used in development and production missiles and drones from the EU to Iran.
The EU is also introducing prohibition of transactionswhich prohibits any transactions with ports and locks owned, operated or controlled by the persons and entities listedor which are used for transfer Iranian drones or missiles or related technology and components to Russia. This measure includes access to port and lock facilities such as Amirabad a Anzali, and the provision of any services to vessels. The latter is to be understood as excluding vessels in need of assistance for reasons of maritime safety, for humanitarian purposes or in connection with incidents which could have a serious impact on human health and safety or the environment.
The Council also adopted restrictive measures against to one person a to four entities in connection with missile and drone transfers from Iran to Russia to support his offensive war against Ukraine.
These designations include Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its director Mohammad Reza Khiabani's. IRISL is Iran's national shipping company and its ships have been involved in the transportation of drones on behalf of the EU-designated IRGC Navy for many years.
The Council also lists three Russian shipping companies - MG Flot, VTS Broker a Arapax- whose vessels are involved in transporting Iranian-made weapons and munitions, including drone components, across the Caspian Sea to supply Russian troops fighting in Ukraine.
In a statement of 13 September 2024, the EU strongly condemned the recent transfer of Iranian-made ballistic missiles to Russia, which it considers a direct threat to European security and a substantial material escalation from the supply of Iranian drones and munitions used by Russia in its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. The High Representative said that the EU would respond swiftly and in coordination with international partners, including through new and significant restrictive measures against Iran.
In its conclusions of 21 and 22 March 2024, the European Council stated that if Iran, after supplying the Russian regime with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are used to carry out ruthless attacks against civilians in Ukraine, were to transfer ballistic missiles and related technology to Russia for use against Ukraine, the European Union would be ready to respond swiftly and in coordination with international partners, including new and significant restrictive measures against Iran. It further stated that Russia's access to sensitive items and technologies of battlefield relevance must be limited to the maximum extent possible, including by targeting actors in third countries that facilitate such circumvention.
On 14 May 2024, the Council extended the scope of the EU framework for restrictive measures with regard to Iran's military support for Russia's offensive war against Ukraine to cover both drones and missiles, as well as Iran's support for its drone and missile programme to armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. The framework was subsequently extended until 27 July 2025 and will continue to be reviewed annually.
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