New Sanctions on Iran: US and EU Turn Up the Heat

The US and the EU plan to impose New sanctions on Iran

In response to Iran’s large-scale attack on Israel, the United States and the European Union are planning to expand new sanctions on Iran. The Biden administration will impose new sanctions to reduce Iran’s ability to export oil, while EU foreign ministers are considering additional “restrictive measures” to avoid further escalation in the Middle East. Both the U.S. and EU are taking action in response to Iran’s aggressive actions, with the details of the sanctions yet to be disclosed.

Key Concepts

• The United States and the European Union are planning to expand sanctions on Iran in response to a large-scale attack on Israel.
• U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced new sanctions to reduce Iran’s ability to export oil.
• The EU foreign ministers are considering expanding “restrictive measures” against Iran to avoid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
• The details of the sanctions have not been disclosed, but both the U.S. and EU are taking action against Iran’s aggressive actions.

After Iran launched an unprecedented attack on Israel last weekend, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Tuesday (April 16) that the United States will impose further sanctions on Iran. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also said on the same day that the EU is studying relevant measures to expand sanctions on Iran.

Israel urges its allies to impose new sanctions on Iran. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on social media that he had contacted more than 30 countries to promote sanctions on Iran’s missile program and declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organization.

Yellen said Tuesday she expected the United States to impose more sanctions on Iran “in the coming days.”

Yellen said the Treasury Department will not hesitate to work with U.S. allies to continue using economic tools to combat the Iranian regime’s “malign and destabilizing activities.”

United Nations sanctions on Iran’s missile program expired last October, and some countries, including the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, have maintained or added new sanctions since then.

Yellen said the U.S. government has been confronting Iran’s activities, targeting its drone and missile programs and funding groups such as Hamas.

Yellen warned: “From weekend attacks on Israel to Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea, Iran’s actions threaten regional stability and can cause economic spillovers.”

Yellen gave no details about further sanctions but stressed that all options are being considered. She also pointed out that Washington has been working hard to reduce Iran’s ability to export oil, adding that “we can do more.”

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement later that the new sanctions would target “Iran, including its missile and drone programs,” as well as the Revolutionary Guards and Iran’s Defense Ministry.

“We expect our allies and partners to impose similar sanctions soon,” he added.

A senior Treasury official said the United States sought to work with its G7 partners and countries, including China. , limiting Iran’s ability to obtain the resources needed to manufacture weapons. “We will have conversations with all major suppliers around the world.”

In Europe, the EU foreign ministers held an impromptu online meeting on Tuesday evening. In addition to calling on all parties to calm down and exercise restraint, they also considered expanding sanctions on Iran to curb Iran’s provision of supplies to its Middle East proxies. arms.

Borrell said in a speech after the meeting that the EU would seek to strengthen measures to prohibit Iran from supplying weapons, including drones, to Russia and proxy organizations in the Middle East.

“Some member states have proposed expanded restrictive measures against Iran,” Borrell said. He will send a request to the EU’s foreign affairs service to “start the necessary work related to sanctions.”

Borrell also mentioned that some member states have raised the possibility of adding the Iranian Revolutionary Guards to the EU’s terrorist blacklist, but he insisted that this would first require a legal ruling by member states.

The EU has previously imposed sanctions on Iran for supplying drones to Russia for its involvement in the war in Ukraine and has threatened to punish Iran if it supplies missiles to Russia.

Iran used a large number of attack drones in this attack. Regarding the drone supply chain, experts warn that there is much evidence that Iran’s large-scale development of drones is supported by the Chinese supply chain. Western countries should be wary that China is using drone parts and components to support its proxies in setting fires in regional conflicts, leaving the democratic camp exhausted.

The war in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas has sparked violence across the Middle East, with Iran and its proxies and allies backing the Palestinians. Tensions have risen further as Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel, with world leaders concerned about a wider conflict calling for de-escalation.