EU Includes Iran Air in Sanctions over Missile Transfer to Russia

A projectile is seen in the sky after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from Tel Aviv, Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)
A projectile is seen in the sky after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from Tel Aviv, Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)
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EU Includes Iran Air in Sanctions over Missile Transfer to Russia

A projectile is seen in the sky after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from Tel Aviv, Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)
A projectile is seen in the sky after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from Tel Aviv, Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)

The European Union agreed on Monday to impose sanctions on seven people and seven organizations, including airline Iran Air, for their links to Iranian transfers of ballistic missiles to Russia.

The listings also include Saha Airlines and Mahan Air and Iran's Deputy Defense Minister Seyed Hamzeh Ghalandari.

Last month, the United States, citing intelligence it said had been shared with allies, said Russia had received ballistic missiles from Iran for its war in Ukraine.

Washington imposed sanctions on ships and companies it said were involved in weapons transfers. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said his government had not transferred any weapons to Russia since it took office in August.

Also facing sanctions under the EU move are prominent officials from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the managing directors of Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries and Aerospace Industries Organization.

The sanctions include an asset freeze and a travel ban to the European Union.

"Military assistance to an aggressor violates international law and the UN Charter. Those who support aggression must share responsibility and pay the price," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X, welcoming the new sanctions.



Iran Working to Control Oil Spill off Kharg Island, Says IRNA

A veiled Iranian woman walks past a mural in a street in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. (EPA)
A veiled Iranian woman walks past a mural in a street in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. (EPA)
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Iran Working to Control Oil Spill off Kharg Island, Says IRNA

A veiled Iranian woman walks past a mural in a street in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. (EPA)
A veiled Iranian woman walks past a mural in a street in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. (EPA)

Iranian authorities are working to control an oil spill four miles (6.4 kilometers) off Iran's Kharg Island, the country's IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday.

The leak from oil pipelines was reported on Sunday and the required actions have been taken, IRNA cited a local official as saying.

"Two other spots have been identified by drones", IRNA said, adding that procedures had been activated to stop the pollution spreading and the situation was being continuously assessed.

Iran is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries with production of around 3.2 million barrels per day, or about 3% of global output.

Most of Iran's oil and gas is in the south of the country, where the Kharg Island terminal is situated and from which around 90% of Iranian oil exports are shipped.