Hungary blocks EU’s new round of sanctions on Russia – FT
RTFeb 19
EU Sanctions Iran Over Alleged Missile Supplies to Russia
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Above: Flags of Europe as seen waving on poles in the Belgian capital, Brussels, on March 2024. Image copyright: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Facts
The Council of the EU announced sanctions on seven Iranian individuals and seven Iranian entities on Monday, over the alleged development and transference of ballistic missiles, drones, and related technology to Russia for use against Ukraine.
This comes as European foreign affairs ministers gathered in Luxembourg to approve a ban on EU entities and individuals from conducting business with those targeted, as well as to make them subject to an asset freeze and travel ban.
The Spin
Pro-Iran narrative
Europe is yet again following the US on the basis of faulty intelligence and flawed reasoning. Even if claims that Iran has provided missiles to Russia were true, these sanctions would still be deliberately antagonistic and demonstrate an absurd double standard. Given that the West is the main supplier of weapons to Israel for use in the Middle East, it's the officials who imposed these unfair penalties that should be facing scrutiny.
Anti-Iran narrative
There is more than enough evidence that Tehran has provided ballistic missiles and other weapons to support Russia's war effort in Ukraine to justify this move. There's no other way for Russia to explain possession of hundreds of Fath-360 close-range missiles, as well as Iranian-made drones. These sanctions are a welcome first step for the EU, but there's much more to be done.
