The US and UK issued on Thursday a new round of sanctions on Iran, in response to Tehran’s attack on Israel on April 13, reported the Associated Press (AP).
Amid growing concerns that Iran’s attack could trigger a wider regional war, the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on 16 people and two entities enabling Iran’s UAV production, including engine types that power Iran’s Shahed drones, that were used in the attack against Israel.
Similarly, Britain is targeting several Iranian military organizations, individuals, and entities with ties to Iranian drone and ballistic missiles industries.
In a statement, the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, “Today, in coordination with the United Kingdom and in consultation with partners and allies, we are taking swift and decisive action to respond to Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel.”
She added, “We will continue to deploy our sanctions authority to counter Iran with further actions in the days and weeks ahead.”
On Saturday night, Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles towards Israel in an immense aerial attack, in response to what it said an Israeli strike on its consular building in Syria on April 1, which killed seven Iranian officers including two senior commanders.
Israel said that it will respond to the Iranian attack, while world leaders warned against retaliation, which could lead to a wider escalation and a spiral of violence in the region.
On Wednesday, European Union leaders vowed to ramp up sanctions against Iran’s drone and missile industry.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the EU will strengthen its sanctions regime and expand it to punish Tehran and help in preventing future attacks against Israel. He further said that Israel needed to exercise restraint to avoid further escalation.
“I don’t want to exaggerate, but we are on the edge of a war, a regional war in the Middle East, which will be sending shockwaves to the rest of the world, and in particular to Europe,” he warned.
