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."

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