Iran has condemned European sanctions on its state-run shipping company and other entities, saying they were based on “fake claims” that it sent ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the Ukraine war.

Iran deemed the ban against Iran’s civil aviation and shipping industry a blatant example of systematic human rights violations.

This follows after the EU and the UK on Monday, November 18, 2024, widened their punitive financial measures against Iran, targeting the use of vessels and ports for “the transfer of Iranian-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), missiles and related technologies and components.”

The sanctions included freezing the assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL) as well as national airline Iran Air, with UK charging that they were used for transporting ballistic missiles and military supplies to Russia for use in Ukraine.

Iran has repeatedly dismissed allegations of sending drones and missiles to Russia since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine.

In a statement on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman, Esmail Baghaei said, “The actions of the European Union and the United Kingdom in imposing sanctions against Iran under this pretext are entirely unjustifiable and lack any legitimacy, legal basis, or logical foundation.”

He added that they are “unjustifiable, inconsistent with international law, and in violation of the EU and UK’s commitments under the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).”

He said the EU and UK justify their sanctions by the “unfounded claim” that Iran supplied ballistic missiles to Russia, pointing out that even Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself had acknowledged that no Iranian ballistic missiles had been delivered to Russia.

“Freedom of navigation and maritime trade are fundamental principles of international maritime law, and accordingly, the international responsibility of the European parties for violations of international law is evident.”

Zelenskyy said in late October that Iran has not yet delivered ballistic missiles to Russia, but is engaged in “in-depth talks” around potential deliveries.

He also said Iran has already licensed the production of explosives-laden Shahed drones on Russian territory, a charge Tehran denies.

If delivered, the Fath-360 short-range ballistic missiles could potentially be deployed on the Ukrainian front lines and help Russia better manage its offensive on Ukrainian soil.

Baghaei said that the sanctions, including those last month that cut off Iranian airlines from Europe, affect the “fundamental rights and interests of Iranians.”

According to the Iranian Spokesman, the designations run counter to commitments under Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers that the United States unilaterally abandoned in 2018.

Tensions Between Iran And West Continue To Rise Amid Threat Against Israel

Meanwhile, tensions between Iran and the West continue to rise as Tehran says it will launch a third major attack against Israel in retaliation for Israeli air strikes on Iran in October.

Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi told a meeting of military commanders and personnel that what prevents war is being prepared for war with full strength.

“The enemies who make threats are waiting for weakness from the other side, if they see any weakness they will take advantage. So it is imperative to stand strong during times of war.”
Abbas Araghchi

On Monday night, Mohammad Javad Zarif, an Adviser to the President, released a video in English to directly address Jewish people around the globe.

“Standing on the wrong side of history, [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and his regime, along with Israel’s Western enablers, have unleashed a machinery of death and destruction in the region, causing carnage and crimes against humanity in a genocidal campaign that murdered over 50,000 civilians, including over 10,000 children.”
Mohammad Javad Zarif