Follow live the latest news on Iran's attack on Israel
Biden insists that “the United States is committed to Israel's security”
April 18 () –
The United States and the United Kingdom have issued this Thursday a new round of sanctions against Iranian individuals and companies linked to the manufacture of unmanned aerial vehicles in response to the barrage of missiles and drones launched over the weekend from Iran towards Israel within the framework of tensions in the Middle East against the backdrop of the war in the Gaza Strip.
Thus, the United States Department of the Treasury has directly pointed out 16 people and two entities “that allow the production of unmanned aerial vehicles from Iran,” including part of the components of the famous Shahed drones. These actors “work on behalf” of the Quds Force of Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
As confirmed by the US authorities in a statement, these sanctions have been adopted in coordination with the United Kingdom, which has also imposed measures against “several Iranian organizations, individuals and military entities involved in the unmanned aerial vehicle and ballistic missile industries.”
For its part, Downing Street has reported that those sanctioned are seven individuals and six entities “that have allowed Iran to carry out destabilizing regional activities, including its direct attack on Israel” and that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has classified as ” reckless act.”
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, has issued a statement in which he recalled that Washington, together with its allies, defended Israel and helped stop the Iranian attack over the weekend, and stressed that the United States now holds Israel responsible. Iran with the imposition of these sanctions.
“I have directed my team… to continue imposing sanctions that further degrade Iran's military industries. Let me make clear to all those who allow or support Iran's attacks: the United States is committed to the security of Iran. Israel. We are committed to the security of our personnel and our partners in the region,” he added.
“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,” said Biden, who took the opportunity to remember that, under his Administration alone, the United States has sanctioned to more than 600 people and entities “including Iran and its allies.”
Along these lines, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has highlighted that Washington has taken “quick and decisive measures to respond to Iran's unprecedented attack against Israel.” “We are using the Treasury's economic tools to degrade and disrupt key aspects of Iran's malign activity,” she said.
SANCTIONS ON THE STEEL AND AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR
On the other hand, the US Treasury Department has also issued sanctions against five companies that supply components for steel production to the Juzestan Steel Company (KSC), considered one of the largest steel producers in the country.
“Iran's steel sector generates the equivalent of several billion dollars in revenue annually, with the majority coming from steel exports,” the US Treasury said in a statement.
Thus, Washington has also singled out three subsidiaries of the Iranian automobile manufacturer Bahman Group for allegedly having materially supported the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and other entities identified by the United States, such as the Iranian Ministry of Defense itself.
