**UK, France, and Germany Coordinate Sanctions Against Iran for Ballistic Missile Transfers**
On Tuesday, the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany issued a joint statement announcing measures to restrict direct flights between Europe and Iran in response to Iran’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia.
These sanctions are being implemented in coordination with the United States, as the Biden administration has blacklisted certain Iranian military officials, Iranian companies, and Russian companies.
“The governments of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom strongly condemn Iran’s export and Russia’s acquisition of Iranian ballistic missiles,” the foreign ministers stated in the joint statement on Tuesday. “This is Iran further escalating its military support for Russia in the war against Ukraine, with Iranian missiles set to reach European territories, exacerbating the suffering of the Ukrainian people. This action constitutes an escalation by Iran and Russia and a direct threat to the security of Europe.”
“We will immediately take action to revoke bilateral aviation service agreements with Iran,” the foreign ministers emphasized.
According to the statement, the three countries will also seek sanctions against “entities and individuals involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program and the transfer of ballistic missiles and other weapons to Russia.” The three countries will also move to impose sanctions on Iran Air.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Tuesday that Russia has received the Fath-360 ballistic missile manufactured by Iran, with a maximum range of 75 miles, which will be used by Russia in the war against Ukraine.
Blinken noted that the coordinated sanctions by the US and its partners are intended to send a signal to Iran’s newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that supporting Russia in the war in Ukraine will have consequences.
The US has imposed sanctions on Iran Air since 2011, alleging that this Iranian national airline is used to represent the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics in transporting military-related equipment.
Sanctions on this airline were lifted under the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) during the Obama administration. The signatories of the JCPOA include the UK, France, and Germany.
Former US President Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions on around 700 individuals and entities, including Iran Air.
[This article references reporting from The Hill.]