The White House Strategic Communications Coordinator, John Kirby, stated that the United States is weighing additional sanctions in response to the expanding military-technical ties between the Russian Federation and Iran. The remark was carried by RIA News in its coverage.
Kirby stressed that Washington has not publicly announced any new measures, but multiple options are being assessed as the situation unfolds.
He also noted that the possibility of expanding sanctions remains on the agenda, signaling a readiness to escalate economic penalties if Russia and its partners deepen cooperation that could aid Moscow’s military capabilities.
Meanwhile, the European Union is preparing what observers expect to be the 14th sanctions package aimed at tightening controls on activities used to circumvent existing restrictions on Russia.
On February 23, the European Union Council approved the 13th round of anti-Russian measures. The package targeted 194 entities, both individuals and organizations, designed to curb Russia’s access to essential components used in unmanned aerial vehicles. The scope of the package extended beyond Russian interests to include companies from India, Sri Lanka, China, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, and Turkey, all of which faced new restrictions. The EU also added 27 organizations to the sanctions list for alleged support of Russia’s military-industrial complex.
In related reporting, it was noted that sanctions have contributed to a notable reduction in Russia’s revenue streams from oil and natural gas, with a decline estimated at about 25 percent in certain periods.