EU moves to tighten ban on drone and missile tech exports to Iran after crackdown on protestors
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen talks during the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Tuesday, January 20, 2026. MARKUS SCHREIBER / AP The European Union on Tuesday, January 20, proposed banning the export of more drone and missile tech to Iran after a deadly crackdown on protesters, European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said. "Europe stands in full solidarity with the brave women and men of Iran who are risking their lives to demand freedom for themselves and future generations," von der Leyen wrote on X. "Today, we are proposing to ban additional exports of critical drone and missile technologies." The protests constituted the biggest challenge to the Iranian leadership in years. The full scale of the crackdown has emerged piecemeal as Iran remains under an unprecedented internet shutdown that is now in its 11th day. Despite difficulty accessing information, the Iran Human Rights NGO says it has verified that 3,428 protesters were killed by security forces. The authorities have been pressing ahead with arrests following the wave of demonstrations, according to local media and monitors, despite international pressure. The EU has already sanctioned several hundred Iranian officials over crackdowns on previous protest movements and Tehran's support for Russia's war on Ukraine. The bloc has also banned the export to Iran of a raft of components that could be used in the country's drone and missile manufacturing. Le Monde with AFP
