The United States (U.S.) and the European Union (EU) say they are considering imposing new sanctions on Iran, following its attack on Israel over the weekend as retaliation for an Israeli attack on Iran’s consulate in the Syrian capital, Damascus.
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen said she expects to take action “in the coming days,” while High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said the bloc is working on it.
Iran’s first direct attack on Israel on Saturday saw a wave of more than 300 missiles and drones fired from Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, most of which were intercepted by Israel and its allies, while a few hit Israeli military bases.
Tehran said the attack was in retaliation for an alleged Israeli air strike on its consulate in Syria on April 1st, in which 13 people were killed.
Israel appears to have only responded with a diplomatic offensive so far. Its Foreign Minister has called on more than 30 countries to impose sanctions on Iran’s missile program.
“Declare the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization”
He also called for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – Iran’s main military, political, and economic force – to be designated as a terrorist organization, something the U.S. has already done, but the United Kingdom (UK) has not.
Speaking on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Yellen said: “As for sanctions, I fully expect that we will take additional measures against Iran in the coming days.”
Yellen said the U.S. is already using financial sanctions to isolate Iran and disrupt its ability to finance proxy groups and support Russia’s war in Ukraine.
New wave of sanctions
National Security Advisor of the U.S. Jake Sullivan later said the new sanctions would target “Iran, including its missile and drone program,” as well as the IRGC and the Iranian Ministry of Defense.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz welcomed the “positive trend towards adopting sanctions” in a statement to X.
Iran warns of a painful response
Iran has indicated that it considers the matter “closed” unless Israel retaliates – with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warning that “the slightest action against Iranian interests will definitely be met with a serious, extensive, and painful response.”
Russia – Iran’s ally – has called for restraint, the Kremlin said Tuesday after calls between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Forbes writes.
