BRUSSELS: The European Union (EU) on Friday imposed sanctions on Iran’s defense minister, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, and the Revolutionary Guards for their involvement in supplying missiles and drones used against Israel, Ukraine, and in the Red Sea.
The sanctions also targeted the commander of the Guard’s Quds Force for facilitating the transfer of missiles utilized by Iran-backed groups, such as Hezbollah and the Houthis.
The EU’s actions follow Iran’s April 13th aerial attack on Israel, which involved the launch of over 300 drones and missiles, the majority of which were intercepted. This attack was in retaliation for Israeli’s airstrike on Iran’s diplomatic compound in Syria that left eight Revolutionary Guards members dead.
The EU had pledged to impose new sanctions on Iran in response to the air attack, with the United States and Britain already implementing similar measures in late April.
These sanctions also come as the West looks to penalize Iran and North Korea for providing military assistance to Russia during its conflict in Ukraine, as well as endeavors to counter Iranian-supplied missiles fired by the Houthis in the Red Sea.
In a statement, the EU Council stated that the sanctioned individuals and entities were involved in the transfer of drones and missiles to various armed groups in the Middle East and Red Sea region.
“As defense minister, Ashtiani is directly involved in Iran’s UAV (drone) programme and is involved in transferring Iran’s UAVs to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine,” the EU sanctions listing said.
Furthermore, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy was sanctioned for facilitating the transportation of Iranian arms, including drones and missiles, to Houthis and Hezbollah to undermine peace and security in the region.
Similarly, Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani was accused of aiding in the transfer of drones and missiles to these groups.
