LegalizeCouncil Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2896 of 18 November 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 concerning restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region
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| Image omitted; see official source | Official Journal of the European Union | EN L series |
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| 2024/2896 | 18.11.2024 |
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 of 20 July 2023 concerning restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region 1, and in particular Article 7(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
- (1) On 20 July 2023, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/1529.
- (2) In its conclusions of 21 and 22 March 2024, the European Council stated that were Iran to transfer ballistic missiles and related technology to Russia for use against Ukraine, after having supplied the Russian regime with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are used in relentless attacks against the civilian population in Ukraine, the Union would be prepared to respond swiftly and in coordination with international partners, including with new and significant restrictive measures against Iran. Moreover, the European Council stated that Russia’s access to sensitive items and technologies with battlefield relevance must be restricted to the maximum extent possible, including by targeting entities in third countries enabling the circumvention of sanctions. The European Council called on the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) and the Commission to prepare further sanctions against Belarus, North Korea and Iran.
- (3) On 13 September 2024, in a statement by the High Representative on behalf of the Union, the Union strongly condemned the recent transfer of Iranian-made ballistic missiles to Russia, considered as a direct threat to European security and as a substantive material escalation from the provision of Iranian UAVs and ammunition, which Russia had used in its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. The Union would respond swiftly and in coordination with international partners, including with new and significant restrictive measures against Iran, including the designation of individuals and entities involved with Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programmes, and in that regard was considering restrictive measures in Iran’s aviation sector as well.
- (4) Russia is using Iran-produced UAVs in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine, which violates the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including against civilians and civilian infrastructure. The Iranian State-sponsored programme for the development and production of UAVs therefore contributes to violations of the Charter of the United Nations and of fundamental principles of international law.
- (5) The Iranian missile programme, which is based on state-owned as well as private companies and benefits from domestic research capabilities, is run by the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, both of which are subject to Union restrictive measures.
- (6) The transfer of Iranian-made UAVs and missiles and related technologies and components thereof to Russia and to non-state armed groups in the Middle East and beyond is a central issue of concern. Iran has transferred Iranian-made UAVs and missiles and related technologies and components thereof to Russia, including by using vessels and ports.
- (7) In view of the gravity of the situation, one person and four entities should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2023/1529.
- (8) Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 18 November 2024.
For the Council
The President
J. BORRELL FONTELLES
ANNEX
Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 is amended as follows:
- (1) the following entry is added under the heading ‘A. Natural persons’:
| Names (Transliteration into Latin script) | Names | Identifying information | Reasons for listing | Date of listing | |
| ‘20. | Mohammad Reza KHIABANI | محمدرضا مدرس خیابانی (Farsi spelling) | Position(s): Director of IRISL Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Associated entities: Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) | Mohammad Reza Khiabani is the director of the EU-listed Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), Iran’s national maritime carrier. For years, IRISL ships have been involved in shipping military related cargo. The EU-listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) converts container ships owned by IRISL Group into drone carriers. The IRGCN is part of the IRGC, and includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) division and a missiles division. The IRGCN is involved in Iran’s UAV and missile programmes, as well as in transferring Iran’s missiles to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. Therefore, in his position as director of IRISL, Mohammad Reza Khiabani is associated with the IRGCN. | 18.11.2024’ |
- (2) the following entries are added under the heading ‘B. Legal persons, entities and bodies’:
| Names (Transliteration into Latin script) | Names | Identifying information | Reasons for listing | Date of listing | |
| ‘17. | MG Flot LLC | Address: Apartment 1, ul Lenina, Akhty, 18D, 368730, Russia Type of entity: shipping company Registration number: IMO 6016988 | MG Flot LLC is a Russian shipping company whose vessels are involved in shipping Iranian military-related commodities, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) components, to Russia. MG Flot LLC’s vessels, including the cargo ship Rasul Gamzatov (IMO: 8861058; MMSI: 273157300), have been transporting Iranian-made weapons and ammunition, including UAV components, across the Caspian Sea to resupply Russian troops fighting in Ukraine. Therefore, MG Flot LLC is involved in transferring Iran’s UAVs or missiles or related technologies or components thereof to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine. | 18.11.2024 | |
| 18. | VTS Broker LLC | Address: Office 19, ul Dzerzhinskogo, 72B, Astrakhan, 414015, Russia Type of entity: shipping company Registration number: IMO 5122966 | VTS Broker LLC is a Russian shipping company whose vessels are involved in shipping Iranian military-related commodities, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) components, to Russia. VTS Broker LLC’s vessels, including the cargo ship Musa Jalil (IMO: 8846814; MMSI: 273353660), have been transporting Iranian-made weapons and ammunition, including UAV components, across the Caspian Sea to resupply Russian troops fighting in Ukraine. Therefore, VTS Broker LLC is involved in transferring Iran’s UAVs or missiles or related technologies or components thereof to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine. | 18.11.2024 | |
| 19. | Arapax LLC | Address: Apartment 6, ul Savushkina, 2, Astrakhan, 414056, Russia Type of entity: shipping company Registration number: IMO 6189893 | Arapax LLC is a Russian shipping company whose vessels are involved in shipping Iranian military-related commodities, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) components, to Russia. Arapax LLC’s vessels, including the cargo ship Begey (IMO: 8943210; MMSI: 273421560), have been transporting Iranian-made weapons and ammunition, including UAV components, across the Caspian Sea to resupply Russian troops fighting in Ukraine. Therefore, Arapax LLC is involved in transferring Iran’s UAVs or missiles or related technologies or components thereof to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine. | 18.11.2024 | |
| 20. | Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) | گروه کشتیرانی جمهوری اسلامی ایران (Farsi spelling) | Place of registration: Iran Associated individuals: Mohammad Reza Khiabani (director) Associated entities: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) | Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) is Iran’s national maritime carrier. For years, its ships have been involved in shipping military related cargo. The EU-listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) converts container ships owned by IRISL into drone carriers. The IRGCN is part of the IRGC, and includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) division and a missiles division. The IRGCN is involved in Iran’s UAV and missile programmes as well as in transferring Iran’s missiles to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. Therefore, IRISL is associated with the EU-listed IRGCN. | 18.11.2024’ |
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2024/2896/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)
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