For drones and missiles
Iran delivers two satellites to Putin
October 12, 2024, 9:02 p.m
The West accuses Tehran of supplying Moscow with drones and missiles for use in Ukraine. Further sanctions are to be imposed against Iran because of the alleged recent delivery of ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, the country is expanding its space cooperation with Russia.
Iran has sent two locally made satellites to Russia to be put into orbit by a Russian spacecraft, according to a media report. It is the latest space cooperation between the two countries sanctioned by the USA, reports the semi-official news agency Tasnim. The development of Kowsar, a high-resolution imaging satellite, and Hodhod, a small communications satellite, is the first major effort by Iran’s private space sector, according to the report.
Russia sent Iranian satellites into orbit in February and 2022. At the time, U.S. officials expressed concern about cooperation between Russia and Iran in space. They feared the satellite would not only help Russia in Ukraine, but also Iran in monitoring potential military targets in Israel and the Middle East.
Relations between Russia and Iran have intensified since the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine in 2022. Western governments have accused Tehran of supplying Moscow with drones and missiles. Iran has rejected this. The West has imposed sanctions on both countries.
Most recently, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin highlighted the good relations between Moscow and Tehran at his first personal meeting with Iranian President Massoud Peseschkian on Friday. “Relations with Iran are a priority for us and they are developing very well. This year we are seeing a growth in trade volume,” said Putin, according to the Kremlin, in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat, where both presidents also took part in an international forum.
EU wants to impose new sanctions on Iran
New EU sanctions are now to be imposed on Iran on Monday. According to diplomats, the member states want to respond to the delivery of ballistic missiles to Russia with the punitive measures. This step is seen as a new breach of taboo because of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. “The European Union has repeatedly and strongly warned Iran against passing on ballistic missiles to Russia,” the EU states said in a statement in mid-September.
The sanctions are aimed at, among other things, companies and individuals involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program and the supply of these and other weapons to Russia. The EU has so far kept the names secret. The background to this is, among other things, that the punitive measures provide for the freezing of assets existing in the EU. Advance information could therefore enable those affected to keep assets safe.
It is likely that sanctions will be imposed on the state airline Iran Air. Germany and France, among others, had already announced work on punitive measures against the state-owned airline. The government in Tehran has so far rejected reports of ballistic missiles being delivered to Russia. The formal decision for the sanctions is to be made on Monday in Luxembourg by the foreign ministers of the member states. They meet there for their October meeting.