Iran imposes sanctions on US and UK over support for Israel

(Patria) - Iranian authorities announced yesterday that they are imposing sanctions on several American and British individuals and entities for their support of Israel in the war against the Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that the sanctions target seven Americans, including General Bryan Fenton, head of the Special Operations Command, and Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, former head of US naval forces in the Middle East.

Also targeted by Iranian sanctions are British Defence Minister Grant Shapps and the British Royal Navy in the Red Sea.

Sanctions were also announced against US companies "Lockheed Martin" and "Chevron" and British companies "Elbit Systems", "Parker Meggitt" and "Rafael UK".

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that the sanctions include "blocking accounts and transactions in the Iranian financial and banking system, freezing assets under Iran's jurisdiction, as well as banning the issuance of visas and entry into Iranian territory".

The impact of these measures on individuals or entities, as well as on possible assets or transactions with Iran, however, remains uncertain.

Iran does not recognise Israel and has placed support for the Palestinian cause at the centre of its foreign policy since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

Since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, triggered on 7 October by Hamas's attack on Israeli soil, tensions have sharply risen between Israel on one side, and Iran and its allies, especially Lebanese Hezbollah, on the other.

The situation escalated on 13 April, when Iran carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel with 350 drones and missiles, most of which were intercepted with the help of the US and other countries.

Iranian authorities then stated that they acted in "self-defence" after a deadly attack attributed to Israel on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on 1 April.