White House slaps new (pointless) sanctions on Iran targeting military programs following strike on Israel

04/21/2024 / By Richard Brown

The White House has declared its intention to unveil a series of new sanctions against Iran, targeting its military officials and key programs, following Tehran’s recent assault on Israel.

Iran recently launched over 300 drones and missiles toward Israel in response to an Israeli strike on Tehran’s embassy in Damascus, Syria that killed multiple people, including a high-ranking military official. (Related: TIT FOR TAT: Israel vows to respond to Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone strikes.)

On Monday, April 15, the House of Representatives approved three bills imposing sanctions on Iran in response. The White House, however, intends to escalate further.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated in a press release, “In the upcoming days, the United States will enforce additional sanctions on Iran, focusing on its missile and drone programs, along with new sanctions against entities backing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s Defense Ministry.”

Sullivan added: “We expect our allies and partners to follow suit with their own sanctions.”

“These new sanctions and measures will sustain a consistent pressure to contain and weaken Iran’s military capabilities, addressing its problematic behaviors comprehensively,” the release continued. “This pressure will persist. We are committed to taking further action, in collaboration with global allies and partners, as well as Congress, to hold the Iranian government responsible for its disruptive and destabilizing actions.”

Despite the announcement of sanctions, the administration of President Joe Biden is aiming to de-escalate military tensions in the region. Biden himself has reportedly warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. would not support any Israeli retaliation against Iran.

Shortly after the White House statement, the U.S. and the United Kingdom jointly enforced a fresh set of sanctions against Iran in response to its recent drone strike on Israel.

Sanctions target Iran’s drone program, industries connected to IRGC

Washington singled out 16 individuals and two entities involved in drone engine production, while the U.K. Foreign Office imposed travel bans and asset freezes on seven individuals and six entities linked to drone and missile programs. Both nations already maintain numerous sanctions against Iran.

The U.S. sanctions target Iran’s drone program, as well as its steel and vehicle industries connected to the IRGC and Ministry of Defense.

Biden affirmed that leaders of the G7 group are committed to collectively intensifying economic pressure on Iran. “Our allies and partners have already or will soon issue additional sanctions and measures to curb Iran’s destabilizing military activities,” he stated.

Since Biden took office three years ago, the U.S. has imposed over 600 sanctions on entities related to Iran, according to the U.S. Treasury.

The latest U.K. measures add to a list of 400 sanctions against Iran, including the entire IRGC. Foreign Secretary David Cameron, announcing the sanctions at the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting, emphasized the joint condemnation of Iran’s attack on a sovereign state.

“Today’s actions are under the U.K.’s new Iran sanctions regime, enabling us to address Iran’s hostile actions,” he remarked, adding, “Further escalation benefits no one.”

The U.S. and U.K. sanctions were unveiled shortly after the European Union announced a new set of measures. The EU agreed to broaden sanctions on Iranian drone and missile producers, in addition to existing restrictions on drone sales to Russia for its conflict with Ukraine.

Watch this episode of “Tommy’s Podcast” discussing the quality of Iran’s drones with CIA veteran Clare Lopez.

This video is from the channel Tommy’s Podcast on Brighteon.com.