Britain Imposes New Sanctions on the Islamic Republic in Coordination with the United States

On Thursday, April 30, Britain imposed sanctions on seven individuals and six organizations involved in the Iranian government's attack on Israel, in a coordinated action with the United States. The British government's statement noted that 'in a coordinated action with the United States, senior military figures in Iran were sanctioned in response to the dangerous direct attack by the Islamic Republic of Iran on Israel.' Britain and the United States have also imposed a wide range of sanctions on key individuals and organizations in Iran's drone and missile industries, aiming to further limit the Iranian government's ability to 'destabilize the region.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated, 'The Iranian regime's attack on Israel was a reckless act and a dangerous escalation of tensions.' He added, 'Today we have sanctioned the leaders of the Iranian army and the forces responsible for the attack on Israel. These sanctions, announced in coordination with the U.S., clearly demonstrate our condemnation of this attack and impose further restrictions on the Iranian regime's ability to destabilize the region.' According to the statement, the new sanctions add to over 400 previous sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran. The entire Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was already on the previous sanctions list, and individuals and organizations involved in Iran's drone and missile programs in this attack are now subject to new sanctions. David Cameron, the British Foreign Secretary, announced the new sanctions at a G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting in Italy, emphasizing that Britain and its allies are committed to supporting the security of Israel and all regional partners. Cameron also stated that the sanctions announced today with the U.S. clearly condemn the Iranian government's attack on an independent country. He stressed that the crew of the 'Ares' ship, which was seized by the IRGC, 'must be released immediately, and Iran must cease its reckless and illegal behavior. Further escalation of tensions benefits no one.' The General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic, the IRGC Navy, the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, Gholamali Rashid, the commander of this headquarters, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, the Minister of Defense, and Seyyed Mir Ahmad Nourine, the head of the Aerospace Industries Organization, along with four others associated with this organization, are on the new sanctions list. The United States also imposed dozens of new sanctions on the same day against Iran's drone program, steel industries, and automotive companies. President Joe Biden, in a statement referring to the firing of hundreds of missiles and drones by the Islamic Republic at Israel, said that the U.S. defended Israel in this attack and is holding Iranian officials and entities accountable today with new sanctions. He recalled over 600 sanctions against individuals and entities of the Islamic Republic and its proxy groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Kata'ib Hezbollah during his presidency, adding that he has directed the Treasury Department to impose more sanctions to weaken Iran's military industries. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it has sanctioned 16 individuals and two companies involved in the Islamic Republic's drone production program. According to OFAC's statement, those sanctioned are active in the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its drone production arm, Kimia Part Sivan (Kipas) and other drone and drone engine manufacturers.