UK unveils sanctions on Iran for aiding Russian war in Ukraine

The British government has announced further sanctions against Iran for aiding Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The measures were agreed following the Islamic Republic’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia.

Iran’s national airline, Iran Air, is today subject to an asset freeze, which the government says will further restrict its direct, scheduled commercial air services to and from the UK.

The UK also announced an asset and shipping freeze against the Iran’s state-owned national shipping carrier, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), and the Russian cargo ship, PORT OLYA-3, for their role in supporting the Iranian defence sector or transporting weapons to Russia for use on the battlefield in Ukraine.

In September, the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK had warned Iran that sanctions would be forthcoming as a result of its military support to Vladimir Putin’s regime in his war against Ukraine.

The announcement comes ahead of the 1,000-day anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine tomorrow.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who is set to chair a session of the UN Security Council on Monday, will tell assembled diplomats that “Iran’s attempts to undermine global security are dangerous and unacceptable”.

And that: “Alongside our international partners, we were clear that any transfer of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia would face a significant response … That’s why today we are sanctioning Iran Air and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, in response to Iran’s deliveries of ballistic missiles to Russia.”

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “This government stands firmly with the people of Ukraine and we have been clear that any support for Russia’s illegal war will not be tolerated.

She continued: “We will continue to use every lever at our disposal to put pressure on Iran to end the transfer of ballistic missiles and bring an end to this needless destruction.”

To date, the UK has sanctioned more than 450 Iranian individuals and entities, including those that seek to use malign influence regionally and internationally.

In opposition, Labour had pledged to proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and in February 2023 then-shadow foreign secretary David Lammy told Parliament: “We would proscribe the IRGC, either by using existing terrorism legislation or by creating a new process of proscription for hostile state actors.”

In October, Security Minister Dan Jarvis told Parliament that the IRGC were “a threat to the safety and security of the UK and our allies”, but did not comment on whether the government had any plans to proscribe the group.