European Union Sanctions Over Iranian Ballistic Missile Transfer To Russia

On Monday, October 14, the Council of the European Union adopted sanctions against seven individuals and seven for the sale of Iranian weapons to Russia. The sanctions target by name the three Iranian airlines Saha Airlines, Mahan Air, and Iran Air, two public procurement companies and two propellant manufacturing companies. The issue concerns Iran’s support for Russia in its war against Ukraine, including the supply of drones and related missile technologies, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and related missile technologies. At a time of heightened global tensions, this decision is likely to add a new dimension to the accusations of double standards levelled by international observers against the countries of the European Union.

Following the sanctions, the Iranian Foreign Minister took to his X account to reject the accusations, pointing out that “Iran-Russia military cooperation is not new; has a history, long before the Ukrainian crisis began”. According to the Iranian news website Iran Insight reveals, “The sanctions will be the bloc’s first punitive measures over the alleged transfers and will come at a time when Iran and Russia have drawn closer”. Aljazeera points out that “EU member countries, apart from Hungary, have provided military and economic support to Ukraine worth some 118 billion euros February 2022.” Since the beginning of the conflict described by the United Nations as a “genocidal risk”, which pits Israel against Palestine and more recently against Lebanon, criticism of a double standard has been levelled at both the United States and the European states. Indeed, arms sales, a key factor in the continuation of Israeli aggression, pose a problem not only for human right, but also for the coherence of European strategy. Humanitarians, international observers and the so-called “Global South” are constantly denouncing the ambiguous positions and standards of European countries. In this context, such sanctions against Iran and in support of the invaded Ukraine reinforce the
accusations of the above-mentioned parties.

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, provoking a worldwide reaction and sanctions against Moscow. With increased military support from the West, Ukraine held out, while fighting continued in various regions. Despite Ukrainian counter-offensives to retake occupied territories, the conflict remains active and unresolved. But already the European Union had decided on October 20, 2022, to sanction three Iranian generals, including the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, as well as the drone manufacturer Shahed Aviation Industries, for the deliveries of drones and military equipment to Russia. This equipment was used, according to the EU, by Russian forces in Ukraine to bomb cities and civilian infrastructure. But Russia and Iran denied these deliveries and the accusations.

This decision to impose sanctions against Iran is, for peace advocates, good news. But it is not difficult to predict that Iran and Russia will persist in pursuing their “collaboration” to the detriment of civilian victims. Finally, while it is true that peace for Ukraine neither removes nor worsens the tragic situation in the Middle East, the European Union’s decision lacks coherence and encourages strong criticism of double standards.

Asma Abdurahman
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