The foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany have issued a joint statement strongly condemning Iran’s export of ballistic missiles to Russia.
The statement, released on 10th September 2024, follows confirmation that Iran has been supplying missiles to Russia in support of its ongoing war against Ukraine, a move the ministers described as a significant escalation.
The joint statement declared, “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 three nations, commonly referred to as the E3, have long warned of consequences should such missile transfers take place. In response to the confirmed shipments, the E3 announced that they would be taking “new and significant measures against Iran.”
Immediate steps include cancelling bilateral air service agreements with Iran and pursuing the designation of key entities and individuals involved in Iran’s ballistic missile programme.
Additionally, the countries are working to impose sanctions on Iran Air.
“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,” the statement continued.
The E3 also spoke of their coordination with international partners to ensure a unified response, calling on Iran to cease its support for Russia’s war against Ukraine and to halt the development and transfer of its missile technology.
Here’s the statement by Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom, France and Germany:
“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.“
Speaking about the UK response, Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said:
“Iran supplying Russia with ballistic missiles to fuel its illegal invasion of Ukraine is a significant and dangerous escalation. We have been clear in that any transfer of ballistic missiles by Iran would face a significant response. Today, alongside our international partners, we are calling out this behaviour and its attempts to undermine global security. Iran must stop supporting Putin’s unprovoked, premeditated and barbaric attack against a sovereign democratic state. The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
I wonder if they’ll stop pointlessly trying to keep the JCPOA alive now?
Stop nattering and lift restrictions on Ukraine using our supplied longer range weapons😡
Agree. The Iranian equivalent of himars will be with the Russian forces within weeks, days even. Ukraine must be given the ability to deep strike Russian logistics. If we have supplied the range limited ‘export’ version of Storm Shadow we need to take off the governor.
So we sent a strongly worded letter 🙂
I’m fairly sure the Mullahs won’t be loosing any sleep over it though.
Remember when sanctions use to be blocking food and medicine to a country, that worked, blocking Iran Air is pointless. Yet more weak willed half measures from us and western governments.
BOO ! That frightened them.
so Iran is supplying weapons to Russian and who essentially bankrolls Iran and supplies them with the more sensitive weapons technology..that would be china.
The west really needs focus more on the fact Russia, china, Iran and North Korea are working more together as an unofficial block than they ever have before.
Seriously. The UK has as much power as a wet lettuce after 35 years of useless governments spending money on useless things rather than our security.
There is only one response. Give Ukraine the permission to use western supplied weapons for deep strikes in Russia at Ukraines discretion!!!