The United States of America, and the United Kingdom on Thursday announced widespread sanctions against Iran’s military drone program in response to its weekend attack against Israel.
“Today, we are holding Iran accountable — imposing new sanctions and export controls,” US President Joe Biden said in a statement.
Referring to Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle program, the Treasury Department, in a statement, said Washington is targeting “16 individuals and two entities enabling Iran’s UAV production, including engine types that power Iran’s Shahed variant UAVs, which were used in the April 13 attack”.
The UK is also imposing sanctions “targeting several Iranian military organizations, individuals and entities involved in Iran’s UAV and ballistic missile industries,” the Treasury Department said.
Tehran launched its first-ever direct military attack on Israel late Saturday in retaliation for an April 1 air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus — widely blamed on Israel — that killed seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including two generals.
The large-scale attack involved more than 300 drones and missiles, most of which were shot down by Israel and its allies including the US and the UK, causing little damage.
Israeli officials have not said when or where they would retaliate, but the country’s military chief has vowed a response.
In response to the attacks, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel reserves the right to protect itself.
“Today, in coordination with the United Kingdom and consultation with partners and allies, we are taking swift and decisive action to respond to Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel.
“We’re using the Treasury’s economic tools to degrade and disrupt key aspects of Iran’s malign activity, including its UAV program and the revenue the regime generates to support its terrorism.
“We will continue to deploy our sanctions authority to counter Iran with further actions in the days and weeks ahead,” US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.
Alongside its sanctions against Iran’s UAV program, the US is also sanctioning five companies providing parts for Iran’s steel industry.
Washington’s sanctions target 16 people and two companies involved in Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle program, as well as components for the drones used in the Saturday attack, according to the Treasury Department.
“As I discussed with my fellow G7 leaders the morning after the attack, we are committed to acting collectively to increase economic pressure on Iran,” Biden said.
“Let it be clear to all those who enable or support Iran’s attacks: the United States is committed to Israel’s security,” he continued. “And we will not hesitate to take all necessary action to hold you accountable.”
In coordination with the US Treasury, the UK government announced its own suite of sanctions against Tehran on Thursday, targeting seven individuals and six companies for enabling Iran to continue its “destabilizing regional activity, including its direct attack on Israel.”
“The Iranian regime’s attack against Israel was a reckless act and a dangerous escalation,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, adding that the UK had sanctioned the “ringleaders of the Iranian military and forces responsible for the weekend’s attack.”
“These sanctions — announced with the US — show we unequivocally condemn this behavior, and they will further limit Iran’s ability to destabilize the region,” he added.
