On September 6, 2024, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on four ships and ten individuals involved in the trade of Iranian weapons to Russia, including ballistic missiles and drones. These weapons are intended for use by Russian forces against Ukrainian troops in the ongoing conflict. The sanctions aim to disrupt the supply chain and hinder the Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine.
In 2023, Iran and Russia finalized an agreement for the sale of Project 360 (Fath 360) missiles, which are short-range ballistic missiles with a range of about 75 miles and a payload capacity of 150 kilograms. Training for Russian military personnel started in mid-2024, and the first shipment of these missiles arrived in Russia recently.
The weapons were transported via the Caspian Sea by the cargo ship Port Olya-3, among other vessels, which are now blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury. The owner and operator of these ships, Dzhamaldin Emirmagomedovich Pashaev, has also been sanctioned. Additional shipments were made through Iran Air, a key logistical partner for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has faced expanded sanctions for its role in arms trafficking.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized those assisting Russia, including Iran and North Korea, as well as nations supporting Russia’s defense industry like China, labeling their actions as threats to European security.
