France, Germany and UK call export of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia 'direct threat to European security' and issues joint statement on sanctions against Iranian aviation.

France, Germany and the United Kingdom have issued a joint statement.

The three countries condemned the export of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia and said they will be taking immediate steps to cancel bilateral air services agreements with Iran. They also said they will pursue the designations of significant entities and individuals and will work towards imposing sanctions on Iran Air.

The governments of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom strongly condemn Iran’s export and Russia’s procurement of Iranian ballistic missiles. This is a further escalation of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and will see Iranian missiles reaching European soil, increasing the suffering of the Ukrainian people. This act is an escalation by both Iran and Russia, and is a direct threat to European security.

The E3 has privately and publicly been clear that we would take new and significant measures against Iran if the transfers took place. We now have confirmation that Iran has made these transfers. We will be taking immediate steps to cancel bilateral air services agreements with Iran. In addition, we will pursue the designations of significant entities and individuals involved with Iran’s ballistic missile programme and the transfer of ballistic missiles and other weapons to Russia. We will also work towards imposing sanctions on Iran Air.

The E3 are closely coordinating our strong response to these transfers with our European and international partners. We call on Iran to immediately cease all support to Russia’s war against Ukraine and halt the development and transfers of its ballistic missiles.

The British foreign secretary, David Lammy, called the supply of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia a “significant escalation”.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, at a press conference in London alongside his UK counterpart David Lammy, said the US plans to detail its sanctions package later Tuesday, including new measures against state-owned Iran Air.

The White House said that dozens of Russian military personnel have been trained in Iran to use a close-range ballistic missile system and that there is a risk of miscalculations and missiles hitting outside Ukraine.

Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office, has said that “sanctions against Iran for supplying ballistic missiles to Russia are a positive step.”

But he added: “We also need authorization to use Western weapons against military targets on Russian territory, the provision of longer-range missiles, and the enhancement of our air defense systems.”