Sanctions against Russia
81 Commons Library Research Briefing, 22 March 2023
• Paravar Pars company, which has produced UAV for the IRGC Aerospace
Force.
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The Council of Ministers also noted "with great concern the reports of Iranian
weapons, including drones, being manufactured with components of
international origin, including from Europe, and is considering the
appropriate measures to take".
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It went on to say:
The European Union strongly cautions Iran against any new deliveries of
weapons to Russia, in particular any steps towards possible transfers of short-
range ballistic missiles to Russia, which would constitute a serious
escalation. The European Union will continue to respond to all actions
supporting the Russian aggression against Ukraine and hold Iran accountable
including through additional restrictive measures.
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On 13 December 2022 the UK also announced further sanctions, although it
did not go as far as the EU. In addition to the designation of MADO, the
company's Managing Director and the Head of the IRGC Research and
Sufficiency Jihad Organisation (IRGC RSJO), the UK also designated the Head
of Iran Aviation Industries, Professor Afshin Fard.
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Unlike the EU, the UK did
not list the IRGC RSJO as an entity itself.
A further five Iranian executives in Qods Aviation Industry were sanctioned by
the UK in February 2023.
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Four Iranian executives at Paravar Pars and Qods
Aviation Industry were also sanctioned by the EU as part of its tenth package
of sanctions agreed by the Council of Ministers at the end of February 2023
(see above).
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US sanctions
The US first imposed sanctions relating to Iran's UAV programme, and the
transfer of weapons to Russia more specifically, in September 2022.
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The US
State Department had outlined its concerns over plans for the transfer of
Iranian UAVs to Russia for use in Ukraine, a few months earlier.
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Expressing support for the announcement of UK and EU sanctions, at a press
briefing on 20 October US National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby,
accused Iran of being directly engaged in the conflict, having also deployed
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Official Journal of the European Union, L3181 (PDF), 12 December 2022
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Council of the European Union, Press release, 12 December 2022
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Council of the European Union, Press release, 12 December 2022
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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Press release, 13 December 2022 and HM
Treasury, Financial Sanctions Notice (PDF), 13 December 2022
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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Press release, 24 February 2023
361
Official Journal of the European Union, L59 I (PDF), 25 February 2023
362
US Department of the Treasury, Press release, 8 September 2022 and US State Department, Press
release, 8 September 2022
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US State Department, On Russia's acquisition of UAVs from Iran, 19 October 2022 and White House,
Press briefing, 20 October 2022
