Following Iran’s recent attack on Israel, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada announced new sanctions against the country’s drone and missile industries on Thursday.
Tehran staged its first direct military attack on Israeli soil nearly two weeks after an April 1 air strike, generally blamed on Israel, killed seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Damascus.
Iran launched a large-scale attack with over 300 drones and missiles, the most of which were shot down by Israel and its allies, including Washington and London, causing little damage.
Last week, the United States and Britain imposed broad penalties on Iran, aimed at individuals and companies involved in the Iranian drone industry.
The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office announced that the fresh sanctions would target two individuals and four companies closely linked in Iran’s drone industrial network.
Trade restrictions against Iran would also be expanded, with fresh limits on the transfer of components used in the country’s drone and missile production, it added.
“The Iranian regime’s dangerous attack on Israel risked thousands of civilian casualties and wider escalation in the region,” Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement.
“Alongside our partners, we will continue to tighten the net on Iran’s ability to develop and export these deadly weapons.”
The UK already has over 400 sanctions imposed on Iran, including designations against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in its entirety and many of those responsible for the attack on Israel.
‘Facilitating and financing’
On Thursday, the US Treasury Department sanctioned over a dozen individuals, organizations, and ships for “facilitating and financing” illegal sales of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Iran’s defense ministry.
“Iran’s Ministry of Defence continues to destabilise the region and world with its support to Russia’s war in Ukraine, unprecedented attack on Israel, and proliferation of UAVs and other dangerous military hardware to terrorist proxies,” the U.S. Treasury Department warned.
“The United States, in close coordination with our British and Canadian partners, will continue to use all means available to combat those who would finance Iran’s destabilising activities.”
On Thursday, Canada sanctioned Iran’s defense minister and a top commander.
Thursday’s joint penalties came a week after Washington blacklisted 16 individuals and two firms engaged in Iran’s UAV program, as well as components for the drones used in the attack on Israel.
The UK government singled out seven individuals and six businesses for allowing Iran to continue its “destabilising regional activity, including its direct attack on Israel.”
The United States also targeted five firms that supply parts to Iran’s steel industry, as well as an automotive that provides “material support” to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The European Union announced its own set of sanctions against Iran on Wednesday.