EU Slaps Iran Drone Industry With New Sanctions

The European Union has imposed sanctions on six Iranian individuals and five entities it says are involved in Iran's “development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) used in Russia's illegal war of aggression." 

"These are the first listings under the newly established framework for restrictive measures in view of Iran's military support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine,” the European Council said in a statement on December 11. “They complement the previous four rounds of listings on Iranian drones already adopted under other sanctions regimes."

The new listings include:

- Shakad Sanat Asmari, a company that develops and manufactures components for the Shahed-class drone, which was exported to Russia – as well as its CEO, deputy CEO and chief scientist; 

- Baharestan Kish Company, which manufactures drone components for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and has worked on Shahed components, and its managing director;

- Saad Sazeh Faraz Sharif, a company that offers aerospace engineering services and manufactures parts of the Shahed UAVs, and its CEO;

- Sarmad Electronic Sepahan Company, which produces components used in Iranian UAVs that are deployed by Russia in its war against Ukraine;

- Kimia Part Sivan Company, which has worked with the IRGC’s expeditionary Quds Force to improve the force’s drones.

Those targeted are subject to an asset freeze and travel ban to the European bloc. The provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of the individuals or entities listed is also prohibited.

Along with the EU, the United States, the UK and other countries have issued multiple rounds of sanctions against the Islamic Republic over its crackdown on dissent and its supply of hundreds of drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine. 

The West has also imposed sanctions on Russia over its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.