EU readies sanctions on Iran for supplying drones to Russia

The European Union on Wednesday readied new sanctions on Iran over its supply of drones to Russia as the U.N. Security Council met to discuss the unmanned attacks that have caused destruction in Ukraine.

The United States, France and Britain requested the closed-door Security Council discussion to voice alarm over the drone shipments, which Western officials say violate a U.N. resolution, although Russia holds veto power to block any new sanctions bid.

Ukraine has for weeks reported attacks by Russia with Iranian Shahed-136 drones — unmanned aircraft whose warheads explode in suicide attacks — and has moved to cut relations with Tehran.

Iran and Russia have both denied the use of the drones, with Tehran saying it wants talks with Ukraine. But the European Union said Wednesday that it had confirmed that Iran supplied the drones to Russia.