London, Thanasis Gavos

New sanctions against Iranian and Russian interests have been announced by the United Kingdom after confirmation that Iran sent ballistic missiles to Moscow.

The Foreign Office announced that together with Germany and France, the United Kingdom canceled bilateral agreements with Tehran that would limit Iran Air services on the European airwaves.

In coordination with the US, sanctions are also being imposed on natural and legal persons in Iran and Russia, such as senior officials of the Iranian military, companies linked to the armed forces and five Russian cargo ships.

Total now the UK has sanctioned more than 400 individuals and entities/companies in Iran and approximately 2,000 individuals and entities/companies in Russia.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy described Iran’s supply of ballistic missiles to Russia “significant and dangerous escalation” and reaffirmed British support for Ukraine “for as long as necessary”.

Also, in a joint statement, the United Kingdom, Germany and France condemned the transfer of the Iranian missiles, also speaking of escalation and a “direct threat to European security”.

The Iranian Foreign Minister insists: We did not send ballistic missiles to Russia – “Western Propaganda”

The Iranian spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Kanaani, however, described as “false and misleading” the reports about the transfer of Iranian weapons to some countries, speaking of “propaganda” aimed at covering up the West’s military support for Israel.

Earlier, the US secretary of state said he would visit Kiev on Wednesday for consultations with its leadership, in a rare visit by a cabinet-level official to the wartime capital. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy will accompany Blinken to Kiev, his first since taking office, in July.