Western powers unveil new sanctions on Iran for arming Russia with ballistic missiles

The US, UK, France and Germany on Tuesday announced new sanctions on Iran for supplying Russia with short-range ballistic missiles to use in its war in Ukraine. US sanctions targeted Russian and Iranian entities while France, Britain and Germany canceled bilateral air agreements with Iran.

The United States on Tuesday unveiled fresh sanctions against more than a dozen firms and individuals in Russia and Iran in response to what it called Iran's "escalatory" decision to send ballistic missiles to Russia.

The sanctions targeted 10 people and six companies for their involvement in supporting Iran's defence sector and identified four vessels involved in "enabling Iran's delivery of weapons components and weapons systems", the US Treasury Department said in a statement.

"Today, the United States and our allies are taking concerted action in response to Iran's reckless decision to proliferate ballistic missiles to Russia for use in its war of aggression against Ukraine," said Wally Adeyemo, the deputy secretary of the US Treasury.

"Iran has opted to intensify its involvement in Russia's illegal war, and the United States, along with our partners, will continue to stand with Ukraine," he added.

The UK said it had started terminating "all direct air services between the UK and Iran" as part of new sanctions on Tehran.


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