THE European Union has increased sanctions against Iran over Tehran's support of Russia in its war with Ukraine, the European Commission has announced, Reuters reports.

The EU said it had added the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its director Mohammad Reza Khiabani, among others, to its sanctions list.

The fresh sanctions are against vessels and ports used for transporting Iranian-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), missiles and related technologies and components.

They include prohibiting any transaction with ports and locks owned, operated or controlled by the sanctioned individuals and entities.

Iranian maritime chief Ali Akbar Safaei condemned the sanctions and denied the "European accusations" as "baseless".

The EU is also sanctioning three Russian shipping firms - MG Flot, VTS Broker, and Arapax - for transporting Iranian weapons, including drone parts, across the Caspian Sea to resupply Russian troops in Ukraine.