The US and Britain on Thursday imposed new sanctions on Iranian military leaders and weapons manufacturers to punish Tehran for its missile and drone attack on Israel last weekend, even as they implored Israeli officials not to retaliate too strongly and set off a wider war.
White House officials said the sanctions were aimed at disrupting Iran‘s ability to produce the unmanned aerial vehicles that its military used to attack Israel by cutting off global financial transactions with companies and individuals involved in building them.The sanctions will also try to block exports by Iran’s steel industry that bring Tehran billions of dollars in revenue.
Prez Biden said the sanctions would “further degrade Iran’s military industries,” adding: “Let it be clear to all those who enable or support Iran’s attacks: The US is committed to Israel’s security.” In a coordinated move, Britain said it had imposed sanctions on seven people and six entities linked to Iran’s regional military activity and its attack on Israel, which PM Rishi Sunak called a “reckless act and a dangerous escalation.”
Earlier, the prez of the European Council announced that new EU sanctions would be imposed on Iran’s drone and missile programmes in an effort “to isolate Iran”. The US and European allies have been looking for ways to punish Iran while urging Israel not to retaliate in a way that could inflame a wider conflict.
Israel welcomed the new sanctions, with foreign minister Israel Katz saying: “This is our opportunity to form a global front and a regional coalition against Iran.” But it is unclear whether the new sanctions will prove more effective at degrading the Iranian military drone programme than previous US efforts. The attack on Israel suggests Iran’s military has found ways around the previous sanctions.
As Israel continues to weigh a possible response to Iran, Tehran has warned it will act harshly against any aggression. Maj. Gen. Ahmad Haghtalab, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commander in charge of protecting Iran’s nuclear sites, said that if Israel were to hit one of those targets, “the hands are on the trigger” to strike Israeli nuclear facilities in response.
White House officials said the sanctions were aimed at disrupting Iran‘s ability to produce the unmanned aerial vehicles that its military used to attack Israel by cutting off global financial transactions with companies and individuals involved in building them.The sanctions will also try to block exports by Iran’s steel industry that bring Tehran billions of dollars in revenue.
Prez Biden said the sanctions would “further degrade Iran’s military industries,” adding: “Let it be clear to all those who enable or support Iran’s attacks: The US is committed to Israel’s security.” In a coordinated move, Britain said it had imposed sanctions on seven people and six entities linked to Iran’s regional military activity and its attack on Israel, which PM Rishi Sunak called a “reckless act and a dangerous escalation.”
Earlier, the prez of the European Council announced that new EU sanctions would be imposed on Iran’s drone and missile programmes in an effort “to isolate Iran”. The US and European allies have been looking for ways to punish Iran while urging Israel not to retaliate in a way that could inflame a wider conflict.
Israel welcomed the new sanctions, with foreign minister Israel Katz saying: “This is our opportunity to form a global front and a regional coalition against Iran.” But it is unclear whether the new sanctions will prove more effective at degrading the Iranian military drone programme than previous US efforts. The attack on Israel suggests Iran’s military has found ways around the previous sanctions.
As Israel continues to weigh a possible response to Iran, Tehran has warned it will act harshly against any aggression. Maj. Gen. Ahmad Haghtalab, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commander in charge of protecting Iran’s nuclear sites, said that if Israel were to hit one of those targets, “the hands are on the trigger” to strike Israeli nuclear facilities in response.
