EU to Probe Iran's Alleged Sale of Kamikaze Drones to Russia

The European Union's top diplomat said the bloc was gathering evidence on Iran's alleged sale of drones to Russia and would respond if the allegations proved true.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday that "we are following very closely this use of drones. We are gathering evidence and we will be ready to react with the tools at our disposal."

Borrell spoke after chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, where the bloc decided to slap sanctions on Iranian officials deemed responsible for the crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Borrell said that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba denounced the use of drones in a speech to the ministers via video-link from a bomb shelter. But Borrell did not say what kind of measures the EU would consider.

The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on Iran's morality police and the Islamic Republic's information minister over their alleged role in the security crackdown against massive anti-government protests.

Two leading Morality Police officials, Mohammad Rostami and Hajahmad Mirzaei, were among 11 people whose assets were frozen by the 27-nation bloc. They're also banned from traveling in Europe.

The Iranian Law Enforcement Forces as well as a number of local police chiefs were also targeted "for their role in the brutal repression of the protests," a statement said after EU foreign ministers endorsed the move at a meeting in Luxembourg.

Information Minister Issa Zarepour was listed "for his responsibility in the internet shutdown" after the protests started.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the EU "cannot and will not close our eyes" to the crackdown in Iran. "It is also clear that, if this regime continues to pummel its population in this way, there will be further targeted sanctions packages against those responsible," she said.

In the statement, the EU condemned "the widespread and disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters. This is unjustifiable and unacceptable. People in Iran, as anywhere else, have the right to peacefully protest and this right must be ensured in all circumstances."

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