Iran criticises EU shipping sanctions, denies sending missiles to Russia

Tehran says nan European sanctions undermine Iranians’ basal authorities by targeting airlines and shipping.

Tehran, Iran – Iran has condemned European sanctions connected its state-run shipping institution and different entities, saying they were based connected “fake claims” that it sent ballistic missiles to Russia for usage successful nan Ukraine war.

“The actions of nan European Union and nan United Kingdom successful imposing sanctions against Iran nether this pretext are wholly unjustifiable and deficiency immoderate legitimacy, ineligible basis, aliases logical foundation,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said successful a connection connected Tuesday.

The EU and nan UK connected Monday widened their punitive financial measures against Iran, targeting nan usage of vessels and ports for “the transportation of Iranian-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), missiles and related technologies and components”.

The sanctions included freezing nan assets of nan Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL).

The Iranian spokesperson said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “has admitted that nary Iranian ballistic missiles person been exported to Russia”.

Zelenskyy said successful precocious October that Iran has not yet delivered ballistic missiles to Russia, but is engaged successful “in-depth talks” astir imaginable deliveries.

He besides said Iran has already licensed nan accumulation of explosives-laden Shahed drones connected Russian territory, a complaint Tehran denies.

If delivered, nan Fath-360 short-range ballistic missiles could perchance beryllium deployed connected nan Ukrainian beforehand lines and thief Russia amended negociate its violative connected Ukrainian soil.

Baghaei said nan sanctions, including those past period that cut disconnected Iranian airlines from Europe, impact nan “fundamental authorities and interests of Iranians”.

The designations tally antagonistic to commitments nether Iran’s 2015 atomic woody pinch world powers that nan United States unilaterally abandoned successful 2018, nan spokesperson said.

Rafael Grossi, nan caput of nan International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who was successful Tehran to clasp high-level talks including pinch President Masoud Pezeshkian, had past week described nan atomic woody arsenic “an quiet shell”.

Meanwhile, tensions betwixt Iran and nan West proceed to emergence arsenic Tehran says it will motorboat a 3rd awesome onslaught against Israel successful retaliation for Israeli aerial strikes connected Iran successful October.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told a gathering of subject commanders and unit that what prevents warfare is being prepared for warfare pinch afloat strength.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pinch subject commanders of nan Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during a ceremonial connected November 18, 2024 [Handout: Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

“The enemies who make threats are waiting for weakness from nan different side, if they spot immoderate weakness they will return advantage. So it is imperative to guidelines beardown during times of war,” Araghchi said successful a reside posted connected his Telegram transmission connected Tuesday.

On Monday night, Mohammad Javad Zarif, an advisor to nan president, released a video successful English to straight reside Jewish group astir nan globe.

“Standing connected nan incorrect broadside of history, [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and his regime, on pinch Israel’s Western enablers, person unleashed a machinery of decease and demolition successful nan region, causing carnage and crimes against humanity successful a genocidal run that murdered complete 50,000 civilians, including complete 10,000 children,” nan erstwhile main diplomat said.