US officials have been using economic tools to counter Iran’s activities, targeting its drone and missile programs and financing groups such as Hamas, which launched its own attacks on Israel on October 7. Image Credit: Reuters
The United States said on April 16 that it would soon impose new sanctions on Iran’s missile and drone program after a weekend attack on Israel, and expected its allies and partners to follow suit.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s announcement came after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen indicated punitive measures were in the works and European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s office said it was working on it.
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Iran sent more than 300 missiles, drones and rockets to Israel over the weekend, it said, in retaliation for a deadly attack on Tehran’s consulate in Damascus. Almost all the projectiles were intercepted and little damage was done.
“In the coming days, the United States will impose new sanctions targeting Iran, including its missile and drone programs,” as well as the Revolutionary Guards and Iran’s Defense Ministry, Mr. Sullivan said in a statement.
“We expect our allies and partners to comply with their own sanctions soon,” he said.
“These new sanctions and other measures will continue the steady drumbeat of pressure to contain and reduce Iran’s military capability and effectiveness, and to confront the full range of its problematic behaviors.”
US officials are using economic tools to counter Iran’s activities, targeting its drone and missile programs, as well as financing groups such as Hamas, which launched its own attacks on Israel on October 7.
Earlier, Ms. Yellen previewed the sanctions, telling reporters: “Iran’s actions threaten the stability of the region and could lead to economic spillovers.”
He said the Treasury would not hesitate to work with US allies to “use our sanctions authority to continue to disrupt the Iranian regime’s abusive and destabilizing activity.”
“All options to disrupt terrorist financing” are on the table, he said.
‘There’s more we can do’
Months of war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza have fueled violence in the region that includes Iranian proxies and allies who say they are acting in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
But tensions remain high with Tehran’s first direct attack on Israel, prompting calls for de-escalation from world leaders who fear a wider conflict.
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Ms. Yellen did not give specifics on possible steps that could be taken, but said Washington is working to reduce Iran’s ability to export oil, adding that there may be “more we can do.”
The United States is also looking to work with G7 partners and countries including China to restrict Iran’s ability to access goods needed to build weapons, a senior Treasury official told reporters.
“We are going to hold talks with all major suppliers around the world,” the official said.
In Brussels, Mr Borrell said after an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers that some member states had proposed “to adopt extended restrictive measures against Iran” and that his office would begin preparatory work.
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“We need to step away from the brink,” Mr Borrell said.
“Washington has sanctioned more than 600 Iran-linked individuals and entities linked to terrorism, terrorist financing and other forms of illicit trade, horrific human rights abuses and support for proxy terrorist groups,” Mr Sullivan said.
The pressure will continue,’ he warned.
“We will not hesitate to take action, in coordination with allies and partners around the world and with Congress, to hold the Iranian government accountable for its malign and destabilizing actions.”