The European Union has imposed sanctions on several Iranian airlines and entities in response to Iran’s role in supplying weapons, particularly drones and missile technology, to Russia. The sanctions target three Iranian airlines—Saha Airlines, Mahan Air, and Iran Air—along with two procurement firms, due to their involvement in transferring unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), like the Shahed-136 drones, to Russia. These drones, commonly referred to as “kamikaze” or “suicide drones,” have been used by Russian forces to strike infrastructure and residential areas in Ukraine.
The EU’s move is a direct response to concerns about Iran’s growing military involvement in the Ukraine conflict, as it also sanctioned individuals linked to Iran’s defense industry, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and defense officials. The transfer of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia is considered a significant escalation, with the EU emphasizing the threat it poses to European security.
