Western sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine have left a “huge gap”, allowing Moscow to benefit from strengthening ties with Iran, it has been claimed.
Britain, the US and the European Union, among others, have placed tough penalties on individuals and entities closely tied to the Kremlin in a bid to deprive the Russian war machine of vital funds.
But since Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine in February, President Vladimir Putin’s government has cosied up to Iran.
For the past few weeks, Russia has been using drones laden with explosives to attack infrastructure in Ukraine. Western analysts have said these drones were made in Iran, a claim which both Moscow and Tehran have denied.
Paul Radu, co-founder and director of the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, said if sanctions had been issued in a different manner, they could have prevented Russia and Iran from growing closer.
“We are seeing Russia, Iran, China … working together to some degree,” he said.
“The fact that Iran can operate with Russia right now shows that there are huge gaps in the sanctions regimes.”
As the two nations form closer ties, he said “we are seeing very intense co-operation between Iran and organised crime”.
Mr Radu was speaking at an online event organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies about the rise of criminal states and the implications for global security.
Asked by The National how the West could prevent Russia from benefiting from dealing with Iran, Mr Radu pointed to the US Enablers Act. If passed into law, it would expand on the types of institutions required to comply with anti-money laundering requirements under the existing Bank Secrecy Act.
He said the Enablers Act had the potential to bring about a “big change” to the way in which criminal states and organisations benefit from dealings with people and firms overseas. Mr Radu did not mention specific actions that the UK and its European allies could take.
“The minimum we can do, as the international community is to continue with pinpointing sanctions, these type of Magnitsky sanctions, where you target officials rather than large parts of the population,” he said.
“But what really is needed is to understand how … enablers in the West are aiding and abetting these type of activities.”
Mr Radu added that this type of activity has been going on for decades.
“It's not that now these countries are becoming criminal, they have been criminal for a long, long time,” he said.
“It's only that we're seeing more and that's good.”
Once a problem has been identified, he said, it can be addressed.
“I think we're at the stage where we're trying to understand as best as possible how these sanctions are avoided by these countries, how Iran is able to co-operate with Russia, and [for] military [support] right now, it seems to be with Syria, for instance,” Mr Radu continued.
“All these avenues for organised crime and corruption are what Russia and Iran are using to their full extent.”
He recalled how he was confronted by an Iranian official in Rome after speaking at a Nato event about the large role money-laundering systems play in Iran.
“He said, ‘Look, you're actually wrong about your assumptions, about Iran being such an evil state because the people that we asked to help us, they robbed us as well,” he said.
“So criminals have no allegiance, criminals have no respect of countries.”
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Ways to control drones
Countries have been coming up with ways to restrict and monitor the use of non-commercial drones to keep them from trespassing on controlled areas such as airports.
"Drones vary in size and some can be as big as a small city car - so imagine the impact of one hitting an airplane. It's a huge risk, especially when commercial airliners are not designed to make or take sudden evasive manoeuvres like drones can" says Saj Ahmed, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research.
New measures have now been taken to monitor drone activity, Geo-fencing technology is one.
It's a method designed to prevent drones from drifting into banned areas. The technology uses GPS location signals to stop its machines flying close to airports and other restricted zones.
The European commission has recently announced a blueprint to make drone use in low-level airspace safe, secure and environmentally friendly. This process is called “U-Space” – it covers altitudes of up to 150 metres. It is also noteworthy that that UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones to be flown at no higher than 400ft. “U-Space” technology will be governed by a system similar to air traffic control management, which will be automated using tools like geo-fencing.
The UAE has drawn serious measures to ensure users register their devices under strict new laws. Authorities have urged that users must obtain approval in advance before flying the drones, non registered drone use in Dubai will result in a fine of up to twenty thousand dirhams under a new resolution approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Mr Ahmad suggest that "Hefty fines running into hundreds of thousands of dollars need to compensate for the cost of airport disruption and flight diversions to lengthy jail spells, confiscation of travel rights and use of drones for a lengthy period" must be enforced in order to reduce airport intrusion.
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 0
Stoke City 0
Man of the Match: Erik Pieters (Stoke)
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
PRIMERA LIGA FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla (3pm)
Alaves v Real Madrid (6.15pm)
Malaga v Athletic Bilbao (8.30pm)
Girona v Barcelona (10.45pm)
Sunday
Espanyol v Deportivo la Coruna (2pm)
Getafe v Villarreal (6.15pm)
Eibar v Celta Vigo (8.30pm)
Las Palmas v Leganes (8.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Valencia (10.45pm)
Monday
Real Betis v Levante (11.pm)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
MATHC INFO
England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)
New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
MATCH INFO
Karnatake Tuskers 114-1 (10 ovs)
Charles 57, Amla 47
Bangla Tigers 117-5 (8.5 ovs)
Fletcher 40, Moores 28 no, Lamichhane 2-9
Bangla Tiger win by five wickets
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Get Out
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford
Four stars
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Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
