Iran Responds to New EU and UK Sanctions

According to SAEDNEWS, The Iranian Foreign Ministry has spoken out against new sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK), claiming they are based on false claims.

Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, rejected the West's accusations about Iran selling ballistic missiles to Russia. He stated, “Tehran’s stance on the Ukraine conflict is clear and principled,” emphasizing that Iran has always urged all nations to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Baghaei pointed out that many European countries continue to make unverified claims about Iran's supposed military involvement in the Ukraine conflict, lacking any proof. He called the accusations from the EU and the UK "fraudulent" and suggested that they are an attempt to distract the public from the ongoing violence against the Palestinian people and the aggressive actions of the Zionist regime in West Asia.

He also criticized some European nations, particularly the UK and Germany, for supplying weapons to Israel, which he said contribute to genocide and aggression in Gaza and Lebanon. Baghaei reaffirmed Iran's right to engage in defense and military collaborations with nations like Russia to safeguard its national security.

The recent sanctions from the European Union target individuals and companies linked to Iran's ballistic missile program, including Iran Air. These sanctions come amid claims that Iran has provided Russia with missiles during the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated that the Islamic Republic has not supplied ballistic missiles to Russia and pointed out that military cooperation between Tehran and Moscow is not new. In a post on the X social media platform, Araghchi stated that he discussed these matters with European diplomats in New York, emphasizing, “The military cooperation between Iran and Russia is not new; has a history, long before the Ukrainian crisis began."

He also highlighted that some European countries have provided Israel with advanced weapons and have participated in military actions against Iran. Araghchi added, “The US Maximum Pressure policy is still in place, and the business community in Europe follows OFAC instructions in full.”

Finally, he firmly stated, “I clearly said, and reiterate once again: we've NOT provided ballistic missiles to Russia. If Europe needs a case to appease Israel's blackmail, better find another story.”