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Iran sanctions: US and UK extend measures against Tehran

4 hours ago
By Ruth Comerford,
BBC News

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Getty Images Iranian-made drones at a military paradeGetty Images
The US and UK have imposed a new wave of sanctions against Iran, following its
drone attack on Israel.

Washington targeted 16 people and two entities that produce engines for the drones.

The UK Foreign Office imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on seven individuals
and six entities, including those involved in drone and missile programmes.

Both countries already have hundreds of sanctions in place against Iran.

The latest move follows Israel's call for support from the international community
after Iran's direct assault on Saturday, involving more than 300 missiles and
drones fired from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Almost all were downed by Israel and
its allies.

Tehran has maintained the attack was in retaliation for a presumed Israeli air
strike on its consulate in Syria on 1 April, in which 13 people were killed.

Israel makes own decisions, Netanyahu says after Cameron talks

What was in the wave of Iranian attacks and how were they thwarted?
The US sanctions target Iran's drone programme, its steel producers and vehicle
companies connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ministry of
Defence.

US President Joe Biden said leaders of the G7 group of leading world economies were
committed to collectively increasing economic pressure on Iran.

"Our allies and partners have or will issue additional sanctions and measures to
restrict Iran's destabilising military programmes," he said.

The US has imposed more than 600 sanctions on Iranian-related entities since Mr
Biden took office three years ago, according to the US Treasury.

The latest measures by the UK Government add to a 400-strong list of sanctions

against the country, which include the IRGC in its entirety.

Announcing the sanctions on Thursday at the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Capri,

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the joint action with the US demonstrated
"unequivocal condemnation of Iran's attack on a sovereign state".

"Today's designations have been made under the UK's new Iran sanctions regime,
which enables the UK to target Iran's hostile behaviour," he said.

"Further escalation is in no-one's interest."

The US and UK sanctions were announced a day after a new package of measures by the
European Union.

The EU also agreed to expand sanctions on Iranian producers of drones and missiles,
in addition to those already in place on selling drones to Russia for use in its
war against Ukraine.

The Israeli government has repeatedly vowed to retaliate after Iran's unprecedented
attack last week.

But Israel's allies are increasingly treading a delicate diplomatic line.

Mr Netanyahu has said his government will "do everything necessary to defend
itself".

In a meeting with him on Wednesday, UK Foreign Minister Lord Cameron told him any
response should be "smart" and limited, while UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned
that "significant escalation will only deepen instability in the region".

Less than a month ago, Mr Biden expressed frustration at the lack of humanitarian
aid getting into Gaza, following the deaths of seven international aid workers by
the Israel Defence Forces.

Both the US and UK governments have faced mounting pressure to cease supplying
Israel with weapons.

EU to tighten Iran sanctions after Israel attack

Biden treads diplomatic tightrope on Israel-Iran
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