The EU imposed sanctions on seven individuals and seven entities involved in the development and transfer of drones, missiles, and related technologies to Russia, as well as groups destabilizing peace in the Middle East and Red Sea regions. Among those sanctioned are three Iranian airlines—Iran Air, Mahan Air, and Saha Airlines—which have been instrumental in delivering Iran-made drones and related components to Russia.
The sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans, and a prohibition on providing any financial or economic support to these individuals and entities. The targeted entities include procurement firms such as Basamad Electronic Pouya Engineering Co. and Teyf Tadbir Engineering Company, responsible for supplying materials to Russia, along with companies like Iran Alumina Company and Shahid Haj Ali Movahed Research Center, which produce rocket and missile propellant. Additionally, Iranian defense officials, including the Deputy Defence Minister and senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, were also sanctioned.
This action follows similar sanctions imposed by the US and UK in September, with the UK designating several individuals and two entities involved in these activities, although the UK’s list did not include the three airlines targeted by the EU.
While these sanctions are a step toward curbing Russia’s access to critical military supplies, they are not sufficient to significantly weaken Russia’s military capabilities in its ongoing war. Russia continues to secure essential components for its weapons, and existing enforcement gaps allow it to bypass sanctions. For sanctions to have a decisive impact, they need to be intensified and expanded to fully cut off Russia’s access to military materials, effectively diminishing its ability to sustain the conflict.
