Following attack on Israel, US-EU promise new Iran sanctions

The United States, European Union and Germany have called for expanded sanctions against Iran, following its retaliatory drone-and-missile attacks on Israel in response to an Israeli strike on an Iranian Embassy compound in Damascus.

‘In the coming days, the United States will impose new sanctions targeting Iran, including its missile and drone program as well as new sanctions against entities supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s Defense Ministry,’ US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, 16 April. ‘We anticipate that our allies and partners will soon be following with their own sanctions,’ he added.

In Brussels, foreign policy chief Josep Borell said discussions on further sanctions on Iran are underway, following proposals by some EU Member States, which he did not name. He explained that expanded sanctions would target the supply of Iranian drones – and possibly missiles – to Russia. They could also cover deliveries to Iran’s proxies in the Middle East.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said action against Tehran could start with sanctions on its technology, especially its drones programme.  ‘I campaigned in late autumn together with France and other partners within the European Union for this drone sanctions regime to be extended further,’ she said. ‘I hope that we can now finally take this step together,’ Baerbock said in Berlin. France and several other EU members have also backed such a proposal.

G7 countries are looking at ‘specific proposals to look at what we can do together to make clear to the Iranians that there will be consequences if they continue to supply drones and more substantial missiles to Russia,’ UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said.

 ‘We are working together on this and recognise the importance of dealing with it,’ Cameron said in Parliament this week, before leaving to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Capri, Italy, 16-19 April.