The European Union has extended its sanctions on Iran to include components used in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ballistic missiles. The move comes in response to Iran’s recent aggressive actions, including attacks on Israel.
Expansion of Sanctions
The EU previously targeted Iranian-made drones, particularly the “kamikaze” Shahed drones that have been used in the conflict in Ukraine. The new sanctions will now cover the production of missiles as well, in light of Iran’s missile arsenal, which is the largest and most diverse in the Middle East.
Impact and Scope of Sanctions
The expanded sanctions aim to restrict the export of EU-made components that could be used in Iran’s missile program. These measures are also designed to blacklist individuals and entities involved in Iran’s UAV and missile programs, with travel bans and asset-freezing measures in place. The sanctions will extend beyond Iran to cover the whole region of the Middle East and the Red Sea, where Iran’s proxies operate.
While the EU has not designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, the sanctions address Iran’s support for proxy groups like the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas, who are hostile to Israel. The recent attack on Israel, involving weapons launched from multiple countries, has raised concerns about regional instability.
