PARIS — The European Union has broadened its scrutiny beyond Iranian individuals and companies involved in the production of reconnaissance and attack drones to encompass international companies and other nations indirectly supplying components for Iran’s drone fabrication.
European security experts have told Al-Monitor that collaboration between Brussels and Washington on the issue has recently increased in a joint effort to block Iran’s drone production by destroying the supply chains of imported components and technologies.
On July 20, the European Council announced fresh restrictive measures, prohibiting the export of components used in drone construction and production from the European Union to Iran. This marked the fourth wave of drone-related sanctions targeting specific individuals and entities. Subsequently, European efforts in intelligence have shifted towards international companies and non-Iranian individuals engaged in the import of drone components.
On Friday, Switzerland announced it was tightening its sanctions against the Iranian drone industry, adopting sanctions similar to those announced by the European Union last July.
