Europe to sanction Iran drone companies for arming Russia in Ukraine
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen called on member states to adopt a 10th sanctions package against Russia that also includes a ban on Iranian companies.
PARIS — The European Commission proposed this week a 10th package of sanctions against Russia, but that would also target Iran for its armament of Moscow in Ukraine with suicidal drones.
The sanctions are expected to be announced on Feb. 24, the one year anniversary of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. It was proposed the European leadership and would the third time that another country (Iran), is targeted in the framework of the European sanctions against Russia.
Addressing the European Parliament on Wednesday, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said that the proposed trade ban and technology export control package should reinforce pressure on Russia and on its allies. "We propose — among other things — export restrictions on multiple electronic components used in Russian armed systems, such as drones, missiles, helicopters. But there are also hundreds of Iranian-made drones used by Russia on the battlefields in Ukraine," she said.
"So for the first time we are also proposing to sanction Iranian entities including those linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards. It is our duty to sanction them, and confront Iran about the supply of drones and the transfer of know-how to build production sites in Russia," von der Leyen noted.
