Iran FM slams EU embargo on national airline, calling move ‘immoral’

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi lambasted embargo of Iranian airlines by the European Union and the British government under the ‘unfounded pretext’ of supplying Russia with ballistic missiles to be used in Ukraine war.

News ID: 5361

Date: 05 November 2024 - 06:26

TABNAK, Nov, 05 : “Targeting ordinary people based on an unfounded allegation of providing missile to Russia is immoral. It is a clear mistake,” Araqchi wrote on X as calling on Europe to make up for its mistakes soon.

He also attached a video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he openly said that Iran has not provided missiles to Russia.

Iranians living in European Union countries and in the United Kingdom have criticized a recent decision to ban flights by Iran’s national airline to destinations in the EU and in the UK, saying the ban has negatively affected more than a million passengers.

The Iranian diaspora in the EU and UK said it was unacceptable to force on “unnecessary and lengthy arrangement” on passengers to use connection flights rather than direct flights by Iran Air to travel to Iran.

The petition said that the EU, UK action to ban flights by Iran Air will cause major hardship to the elderly and those with disabilities.

Iran Air used to fly to seven destinations in EU countries, namely Roma, Milan, Vienna, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt and Paris as well as to the British capital of London before the EU announced its sanctions on the airline on October 15.

In the sanctions announcement, the EU accused Iran Air and two other Iranian airlines of having a role in the alleged supply of drones and missiles from Iran to Russia.

Iran has repeatedly rejected accusations it has been supplying weapons to Russia for use in the ongoing war in Ukraine.