The European Union on Monday, December 12, introduced additional restrictive measures against eight representatives of Iran for their participation in the production and transfer of drones to Russia for the war against Ukraine. The EU Council added four individuals and four legal entities to the sanctions list for undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine or creating a threat to them. This was reported on the website of the institution..

These restrictions mean an asset freeze, a ban on entering the bloc, and a ban on access to finance or economic resources for those to whom they apply..

In addition, the Council of the European Union intends to impose sanctions against another organization on the same grounds..

Yousef Abutalebi, managing director of the Iranian company Mado, which produces components for UAVs, has already been subject to restrictions.. The company is believed to be associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and its engines were found in Shahed-136 kamikaze drones launched by Russian invaders in Ukraine.

Ali Reza Balali, an officer and adviser to the head of the Aerospace Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who organized and promoted an event to train how to work with drones, where the Russian military was also invited, was included in the same list..

The measures were also taken against the head of the IRGC Aerospace Forces, Abdollah Mehrabi, who purchased engines from Mado, as well as the Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Air Force, Hamid Vahedi, who takes part in decision-making on the Tehran UAV program, their export and defense cooperation with the Russian Federation in this area..

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Among the legal entities to which the European Union has applied sanctions is the Iranian company for the manufacture of aircraft engines DAMA. She is involved in the Shahed-171 drone research, development and production program of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has been secretly purchasing for an enterprise associated with the Iranian Ministry of Defense.. As noted, several Shahed-171s were sold to Russia..

Restrictions were also imposed against the IRGC, a jihadist research organization involved in work and procurement related to the development of Iranian drones..

In addition, the already mentioned Mado and the Paravar Pars company, which is related to the Imam Hossein University, controlled by the IRGC, were under European sanctions.. The enterprise produced drones for the Tehran Aerospace Force and participated in the development and production of Shahed-171.

Earlier, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried said that the United States and its allies are closely monitoring Iran's alliance with Russia and are ready to impose additional sanctions against Iran itself if the supply of weapons for the war against Ukraine continues..