Kean and Moskowitz send letter to U.K. foreign secretary to ban flights that threaten Ukrainian security
WASHINGTON D.C. – House Foreign Affairs, Europe Subcommittee Chairman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and Congressman Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) Tuesday sent a bipartisan letter to U.K. Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, urging that the United Kingdom ban flights from certain Iranian airlines to Heathrow Airport and other U.K. airports, due to reports that Iran is utilizing its commercial airlines to traffic munitions and other war materials to Russia.
Russia has used Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to attack Ukrainian forces and destroy U.S.-supplied military equipment. The three Iranian airlines that flew those UAVs to Russia—Mahan Air, Iran Air, and Qeshm Air—also operate commercial flights to European airports.
This letter is supported by JINSA, the Jewish Institute for National Security of America.
“Our allies and partners need to step up our sanctions regime on Iran wherever possible, especially when this kind of sanctions evasion fuels the Russian war effort against Ukraine,” Kean said. “The United Kingdom has been one of our oldest and strongest partners throughout history, and we all need to be together in countering Iran as it supports terror across the globe.”
“Whether it’s backing Hamas’s deadly attacks against Israel or delivering lethal weapons for Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine, Iran seeks to cause chaos and undermine American interests wherever possible,” Moskowitz said. “It’s imperative that our allies like the United Kingdom recognize the importance Iran plays in enabling Vladimir Putin’s crimes against humanity. By banning flights from Iran Air, the UK can make a significant impact in the regime’s ability to support Russia’s war machine.”
“We must bring a stop to the practice of European airports accepting the same planes the Iranian regime uses to illegally transport lethal weapons to Russia for their slaughter of Ukrainians,” said Michael Makovsky, Ph.D., President & CEO, Jewish Institute for National Security of America. “I applaud Reps. Tom Kean and Jared Moskowitz for their leadership on this important issue.”
Congressman Kean serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
