UK and US Impose Sanctions on Iran for Supplying Ballistic Missiles to Russia
The UK and US have announced fresh sanctions on Iran after formally accusing Tehran of supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, escalating the international response to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions were revealed after UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed they would visit Ukraine together later this week to show solidarity with Kyiv. The trip, hailed by Lammy as "the first of its kind in a decade," will focus on hearing Ukraine's requests for permission to use Western-supplied long-range weapons to strike targets within Russia.
During a joint press conference, Blinken emphasized the importance of listening to Ukraine’s leadership, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, to better understand their strategic needs. “One of the purposes of the trip is to hear directly from the Ukrainian leadership, including President Zelensky, about their needs in this moment,” said Blinken. “We will report back to President Biden and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and I anticipate this issue will be a key part of their discussions.”
When asked if the UK would allow Ukraine to use UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to strike Russian targets, Lammy refrained from providing details, citing security concerns. “It would be quite wrong to comment on operational issues, as the only beneficiary would be Putin,” he said, reinforcing the West’s commitment to denying Russia any tactical advantage.
The announcement of sanctions followed Blinken’s meeting with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, where they discussed not only Ukraine but also developments in the Middle East.
During the meeting, Blinken revealed that Russia has already received shipments of Iranian ballistic missiles, which it is expected to use within weeks in Ukraine. The US warned that this represents a “dramatic escalation” of Iran’s involvement in the conflict. The missiles, with a range of up to 75 miles, will enable Russia to strike targets further from the front lines, potentially altering the dynamics of the war.
Iran has consistently denied supplying weapons to Russia, dismissing previous US intelligence reports. However, the new sanctions come as part of a broader response from Western allies, including the cancellation of bilateral air services agreements between Iran and European countries, which will restrict Iran Air’s ability to fly in the UK and Europe. The ban will take full effect within 12 months.
Additionally, the UK and US announced coordinated sanctions against Iranian and Russian individuals and organizations, including five Russian cargo ships believed to have transported arms to Russia. These moves signal a growing international effort to isolate both nations diplomatically and economically.
“Iran’s supply of ballistic missiles to Russia is a significant and dangerous escalation,” said Lammy. “Iran must cease its support of Putin’s unprovoked and barbaric attack against a sovereign democratic state. The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
The sanctions represent a deepening of the West’s involvement in the war, and further actions are expected as Ukraine continues to push for more military support to repel Russian aggression.