Tue Sep 10 16:45:00 UTC 2024: ## US, UK, France, and Germany Impose Sanctions on Iran for Providing Missiles to Russia

**London, UK** – The US, UK, France, and Germany have announced new sanctions against Iran, accusing the country of sending ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This marks the first time the Western powers have formally accused Iran of such a transfer, following weeks of warnings.

The sanctions, which target the Iranian aviation sector and individuals involved in the missile program, were announced during a joint press conference by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his British counterpart, David Lammy, in London. Blinken stated that Russia had already received shipments of the short-range ballistic missiles and would likely deploy them against Ukrainian targets within weeks.

The joint statement from France, Britain, and Germany condemned the alleged missile transfer as an escalation by both Iran and Russia, posing a direct threat to European security. They stated that they had previously warned Iran of severe consequences if such deliveries occurred.

The US, UK, France, and Germany have taken immediate steps to cancel bilateral air services with Iran and are pursuing sanctions against Iranian Air, individuals, and entities involved in the ballistic missile program. The US Treasury Department has also sanctioned 10 Iranian individuals and five Iranian companies linked to the IRGC and the transfer of weapons to Russia.

Iran has denied the allegations, calling them “false and misleading news” and “ugly propaganda.” The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani, while addressing the accusations, focused his statement on the conflict in Gaza and the wider Middle East, highlighting US and Western military support for Israel.

The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, declined to comment on the reports but affirmed that Russia and Iran are cooperating on various issues, including sensitive areas.

The move by Western powers comes amid growing concerns about Iran’s deepening military ties with Russia. The sanctions are aimed at deterring further transfers of weapons from Iran to Russia and putting pressure on Iran to cease its support for the war in Ukraine.

The UK, France, and Germany have joined the US in imposing these sanctions, demonstrating their shared commitment to holding Iran accountable for its actions. The European Union is also considering further sanctions, which require the approval of all 27 member states.

**Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office head, Andriy Yermak, welcomed the sanctions but called for further steps, including authorization for Ukraine to use Western weapons against Russian military targets and the provision of longer-range weapons and enhanced air defense systems.**

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