The U.S. Treasury Department announced a new series of sanctions against more than a dozen people and entities involved in Iran’s drone production following last weekend’s unprecedented attack on Israel.
These new sanctions, which the United States coordinated with European allies, are an attempt to cut off Iran’s ability to manufacture its missile and drone program and to isolate the country on the global stage following the attack.
Sixteen people were sanctioned, as were several other entities that aid the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in its drone production.
“The sanctions target leaders and entities connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s Defense Ministry, and the Iranian government’s missile and drone program that enabled this brazen assault,” President Joe Biden said. “As I discussed with my fellow G7 leaders the morning after the attack, we are committed to acting collectively to increase economic pressure on Iran. And our allies and partners have or will issue additional sanctions and measures to restrict Iran’s destabilizing military programs.”
Last weekend’s attack, which originated from Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, included about 110 medium-range ballistic missiles, over 30 land-attack cruise missiles, and more than 150 drones. Israel, along with multiple allies, intercepted nearly all of the munitions and prevented wide-scale destruction. Only one person was hurt, and an Israeli military base was damaged.
“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. We’re using Treasury’s economic tools to degrade and disrupt key aspects of Iran’s malign activity, including its UAV program and the revenue the regime generates to support its terrorism,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said.
Biden and other world leaders have urged Israel to refrain from carrying out an escalatory response against Iran. Iranian leaders have threatened to retaliate if Israel responds, prompting concerns that the tit-for-tat between the two adversaries could devolve into a full-blown war.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said his country “told the Americans in messages clear” that Iran’s response to Israel’s attack on its consulate in Damascus, Syria, that killed a senior military leader and other officials was “definite and final,” whereas Ahmad Haghtalab, the Guard commander in charge of nuclear security, warned Iran may review its nuclear doctrine.
Despite those warnings, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would make its “own decisions” when choosing how to respond to Iran’s unprecedented attack, though neither he nor other Israeli officials detailed exactly what it could look like.