Iran Accuses EU & UK Of Violating International Maritime Laws With New Sanctions

Iran has strongly criticised the latest sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK), calling them unjustified and based on false allegations that it provided ballistic missiles to Russia.

The sanctions target Iran’s national shipping carrier and airline, accusing them of supporting Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine.

On Monday, the EU sanctioned the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and Mohammadreza Modarres Khiabani, the company’s director.

The EU believes that the shipping company sent military equipment, including drones and missile components, to Russia. The UK followed suit, imposing asset freezes on IRISL and Iran Air on similar charges.

In response to these sanctions, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, said that the claims of missile shipments are baseless and contradict international norms.

Baghaei says that the sanctions violate international laws, including the freedom of navigation and maritime trade.

The EU has also imposed sanctions on three Russian Shipping companies- Arapax, MG Flot, and VTS Broker, for enabling the transfer of drone parts and weapons from Iran to Russia through the Caspian Sea.

These measures ban transactions with ports and vessels associated with the sanctioned entities.

The British Foreign Office defended its decision, saying that Iran’s actions were a threat to global security. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy asked Tehran to stop supporting Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, describing it as unacceptable and dangerous.

Western governments have regularly accused Iran of supplying drones and military equipment to Russia, which Tehran has denied.

Baghaei also pointed out that Ukraine’s president had already accepted that there was no evidence of ballistic missile transfers from Iran to Russia, questioning the basis of the sanctions.

Despite these denials, Western nations say that Iran’s support for Russia continues to increase the conflict, which has now lasted over 1,000 days.

These sanctions are expected to strain further Iran’s international trade and shipping operations and its ability to maintain economic ties with global partners.

Tehran, on the other hand, continues to accuse Western nations of using sanctions for political pressure.

References: Reuters, Alarabiya News

Source: Maritime Shipping News