Iran has rejected accusations that it supplied short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the Ukraine conflict and promised a strong response to fresh sanctions imposed by European nations. Tehran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, refuted the claims on Wednesday, stating that the allegations were based on “faulty intelligence” and dismissing the charges as part of a broader misinformation campaign.

The sanctions were announced by Britain, France, and Germany, who revoked air service agreements with Iran and imposed restrictions on its national carrier, Iran Air. These measures follow the United States’ formal accusation that Iran is providing Russia with missiles. The European nations also signaled further sanctions on individuals and entities tied to Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani, condemned the new sanctions, labeling them as “economic terrorism” aimed at punishing the Iranian people. He also warned that Britain, France, and Germany would face “appropriate and proportionate action” in response to these punitive measures.

Despite the denials from Tehran, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the allegations during a visit to London, alongside British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Blinken asserted that Russia had received shipments of Iranian ballistic missiles and that Moscow was expected to deploy them in Ukraine within weeks. He also warned that the growing military cooperation between Russia and Iran posed a significant threat to European security.

Iran has already been supplying Russia with Shahed drones, which have been used in Ukraine since Moscow’s invasion in 2022. Tehran’s refusal to acknowledge any missile transfers has further strained relations with the West, with Kanaani accusing the U.S. and European countries of using “ugly propaganda” to divert attention from their own military activities in Gaza.

Although Iran is one of the most sanctioned nations globally, experts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of additional sanctions, which they believe could disproportionately impact the Iranian middle class rather than the country’s leadership.