The US has imposed new sanctions on Iran as punishment for its missile attack on Israel. The United States has said that companies and vehicles associated with the sale and transportation of Iranian oil will be covered by the sanctions. Al Jazeera news
Yesterday Friday, the US Ministry of Finance or the US Treasury and the State Department jointly imposed this ban.
Washington announced the move as Tel Aviv considers a military response against Iran in response to recent missile attacks.
Last October 1, Iran attacked Israel with more than 180 ballistic missiles. Iran said the attack was in retaliation for the deaths of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas chief Ismail Haniya. In response to that attack, Israel promised a strong response. But the US has built a dam. The country has banned Israel from attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities and oil facilities.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a statement, ‘After Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel on October 1, the United States has made it clear that we will impose appropriate consequences for Iran’s actions. To that end, we are taking action today to disrupt the flow of revenue used by the Iranian government and its nuclear program to finance its nuclear and missile development, support terrorist proxies and partners, and perpetuate conflict throughout the Middle East.’
Washington said Friday’s moves added Iran’s oil and petrochemical industries to a list of sectors that Tehran uses to finance its ballistic missile and nuclear programs. The move opened the door for the US to impose more sanctions against Iran.
The State Department said the administration of US President Joe Biden has taken a position that would allow sanctions to be imposed against specific individuals linked to the petroleum or petrochemical sectors of Iran’s economy. The US has so far imposed sanctions on 6 oil tankers under this initiative. Apart from this, 17 other vessels have been placed on the list of possible sanctions.
A number of sectors, starting with Iran’s oil and petrochemical industries, will fall under the new measures taken by the US. However, the United States has already imposed major sanctions on the Iranian oil and petrochemical sector.
The new punitive measures are seen as a sign of further tightening of restrictions on Iranian exports and Washington’s continued support for Israel.
