The United States and United Kingdom have imposed new sanctions on Iran following Tehran’s recent attack on Israel. The sanctions target individuals and companies involved in producing drones used in the attack, as well as steel production and automaker subsidiaries.
President Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have both stressed the importance of holding Iran accountable and limiting its destabilizing activities in the region. The U.S. Commerce Department is also implementing new controls to restrict Iran’s access to commercial grade microelectronics.
Lawmakers are pushing forward legislation to financially punish Iran and its leaders, with U.S. officials warning of additional sanctions in response to Iran’s activities in the region. The European Union has joined in the efforts, vowing to increase sanctions on Iran specifically focusing on its drone and missile deliveries to proxies in Gaza, Yemen, and Lebanon.
The Iranian attack on Israel was reportedly in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iran’s consulate in Syria. The U.S. has already sanctioned hundreds of entities and individuals in Iran for supporting militant groups, but questions remain about the effectiveness of these sanctions in preventing Iran from producing military equipment.
Previous sanctions have targeted Iran’s ability to export oil, and more actions may be on the horizon as the international community seeks to curb Iran’s aggressive behavior in the region. The goal of the sanctions is to deter Iran from continuing its destabilizing actions and to promote peace and security in the Middle East.
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