The European Union (EU) has agreed to sanctions on three individuals and one entity over the supply of drones to Russia.
European Union countries have adopted sanctions on Iran over Iranian-made drones supplied to Russia and used in attacks on Ukraine, the EU Council’s Czech presidency has said.
“After three days of talks, EU ambassadors agreed on measures against entities supplying Iranian drones that hit Ukraine,” the EU Council’s Czech presidency said on Twitter on Thursday, according to Al-Jazeera.
EU states decided to freeze the assets of three individuals and 1 entity responsible for drone deliveries,” the presidency said.
“The EU is also prepared to extend sanctions to four more Iranian entities that already featured in a previous sanctions list,” it said.
Later on Thursday, the United Kingdom reportedly announced sanctions on three Iranian generals and an arms firm over Russia’s use of Iranian drones to bomb Ukraine, matching the EU measures.
Media reports say Ukraine has accused Russia of using Iranian-made “kamikaze” drones in attacks on cities and energy infrastructure in recent weeks. It says its military has shot down more than 220 Iranian drones since mid-September.
Russia denies targeting civilians in the conflict, which began on February 24 when Russia launched the so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine. The Kremlin says it has no knowledge of Russian forces using Iranian drones in Ukraine.
Iran has repeatedly denied allegations that it has supplied drones to Russia as “baseless and unsubstantiated.”
IRNA says Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on Thursday categorically rejected drone deliveries to Russia to use in the Ukraine war, adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran is trying to stop the conflict in Ukraine through diplomacy.
Amirabdollahian and the European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell reportedly held phone talks on Thursday to discuss the latest developments in the Ukraine conflict and the lifting of sanctions talks.
Referring to the baseless claims about use of Iranian drones in the Ukraine conflict, top Iranian diplomat said that Iran and Russia are engaged in defense cooperation, but Iran’s policy towards the Ukraine conflict is to respect the territorial integrity of the country and not to send weapons to the parties involved, stressing Iran’s policy as stopping the war and ending the displacement of the people.
