New Sanctions Against Iran's Drone Program; Biden: America is Committed to Israel's Security

Following the Iranian government's drone and missile attack against Israel, the United States imposed dozens of new sanctions on Thursday, April 30, targeting 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 America defended Israel in this attack and today holds Iranian officials and institutions accountable with new sanctions. He emphasized the necessity of increasing economic pressure on the Islamic Republic, stating that America's allies would also impose further sanctions to limit the destabilizing military programs of the Iranian government. Biden reminded that over 600 sanctions have been imposed against individuals and institutions of the Islamic Republic and its proxy groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Kata'ib Hezbollah during his presidency, and added that he has instructed the Treasury Department to impose more sanctions to weaken the military industries of the Islamic Republic. He warned Iranian officials: 'We will not hesitate to take all necessary actions to hold you accountable.' 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, these sanctioned individuals are active in the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its drone production arm, Kimia Part Sivan (Kipas), as well as other drone and drone engine manufacturers. Mohammad Sadegh Abotalebi and Ali Asghar Abotalebi, both from Mado Company, and the CEO of Asman Pishraneh, Ali Najafi Habibi, are sanctioned for their involvement in the production and supply of drone engines. Based on OFAC's statement, Abbas Sartaji, Mehdi Ghafari Naqneh, Hassan Arambonjad, Hadi Jamshidi Zowarki, Reza Nahardani, and Abolfazl Ramadan Zadeh Mashkani, all senior members of the Quds Force and active in testing, developing, and supplying drones to the Islamic Republic's proxy groups in Iraq, Yemen, and Syria, have been sanctioned. Alireza Nourian Ramsha, Mohsen Seyyadi Touranlu, Mohammad Sadegh Fatehi, Hamid Haji Ebrahimi Foroshani, Ali Asghar Altaf, and Ismail Azizkhani, all employees of Kimia Part Sivan, were also sanctioned by the U.S. on Thursday. Additionally, Fath Asman Sharif Company and its CEO Majid Dehghan were sanctioned due to close cooperation with the Quds Force. OFAC's Thursday statement also announced sanctions against five companies responsible for supplying materials used in steel production by Khuzestan Steel Company or its final product buyers. According to OFAC's statement, one of these companies is based in Dubai, three companies are in Europe (including Turkey), and one company is located in Hong Kong. Furthermore, three subsidiaries of Bahman Group, namely Bahman Diesel, Iran Doo Charkh, and Shasi Sazi Iran, were also sanctioned for cooperating with the Revolutionary Guard. Bahman Company was sanctioned in October 2018 for cooperating with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. A letter from 134 members of the British Parliament to Rishi Sunak: Recognize the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. The U.S. announced cooperation with allies to design a 'comprehensive strategy' in response to the actions of the Islamic Republic. After an emergency meeting in Brussels, the European Union initiated a plan to expand sanctions against the Islamic Republic. The U.S. Treasury Secretary stated: 'We use sanctions to disrupt the destabilizing activities of the Iranian government.' A letter from the Israeli Foreign Minister to 32 countries: Sanction the Iranian government's missile program. Cameron urges Israel not to take retaliatory action against the Iranian government; sanctions against the Islamic Republic are increasing. Leaders of the G7 condemned the 'unprecedented' attacks of the Islamic Republic against Israel.