Germany, France, and the UK have announced plans to impose sanctions on Iran's national airline, Iran Air, accusing Tehran of supplying ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The three European countries, in a joint statement issued by Germany’s foreign ministry on behalf of the E3 (Germany, France, and the UK), accused Iran of escalating its military support for Russia. They condemned the alleged missile transfers, stating that the ballistic weapons were being used to target Ukraine and posed a direct threat to European security.

“In coordination with our international partners, the UK will cancel its bilateral air services arrangements with Iran, which will restrict Iran Air’s ability to fly in to the UK”, the UK’s FCDO wrote on September 10.

British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said, “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.”

“ The E3 has been clear, both privately and publicly, in stating that we would take new and significant measures against Iran if these transfers occurred,” reads the joint statement issued by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

“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,” Germany wrote.

"We will be taking immediate steps to cancel bilateral air services agreements with Iran,” the foreign ministry added.

While the European troika has intensified its rhetoric, US officials have been more cautious.

John Kirby, spokesperson for the US National Security Council, and CIA Director William Burns had previously declined to confirm similar allegations made by US media outlets, although US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reiterated claims that Iran is supplying Russia with missiles.

In response, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, rejected the allegations, calling them politically motivated.

"It is regrettable that certain parties involved in the Ukraine conflict are making such accusations against Iran. We have consistently maintained that a political solution is the best path forward in resolving this crisis," Kanaani said. He reiterated that Iran had not supplied missiles to either side in the war.

The Kremlin, too, dismissed the reports. Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated that such claims did not align with the facts.

Despite denials from both Iran and Russia, the European countries are moving forward with plans to impose significant punitive measures.

Among those facing asset freezes and travel bans are Brigadier General Seyed Hamzeh Ghalandari, Director General for International Relations of Iran's Ministry of Defence, and Second Brigadier General Ali Jafarabadi, head of the Space Command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force.

The sanctions extend to several Russian organisations, including the 924th State Centre for Unmanned Aviation and the Russian Aerospace Forces, as well as five Russian cargo ships allegedly involved in transporting military supplies from Iran to Russia.

New legislation is expected to be introduced in Parliament later this week to strengthen trade sanctions on Iran, targeting items used in the production of ballistic missiles, UAVs, and other weaponry.

The UK has now imposed sanctions on over 400 Iranian individuals and entities and more than 2,000 Russian individuals and entities since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.