
European Union imposes sanctions on Iranian airlines
The European Union on Monday imposed new sanctions on three major Iranian airlines accused of being involved in supplying weapons to Russia. This comes against the backdrop of ongoing support that Iran is providing to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine. The airlines concerned, including Iran Air, Saha Airlines and Mahan Air, face not only a ban on flying in European airspace but also severe financial sanctions. Serious allegations against Iranian airlines According to the EU, these airlines have repeatedly supplied Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and related technologies to Russia, which were used in the Ukraine war. The sanctions include both a travel ban on the companies and the freezing of their assets within the European Union. This is part of a comprehensive EU response to the military support that Iran has been providing to Russia since the beginning of the war. The EU had already issued a statement in September 2023 condemning the delivery of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia, calling it a "direct threat to European security." The latest sanctions are a continuation of this policy, which aims to prevent military cooperation between Iran and Russia. "These designations are targeted and aim to prevent certain Iranian policies and activities," the EU's official statement said. Iranian aviation in the EU's sights Among the sanctioned airlines, Iran Air stands out as the only one of the three airlines that currently still operates flights to