Iran hits US, UK with sanctions for backing Israel

Iran has imposed sanctions on various American and British individuals and organizations for their support of Israel in its conflict with Hamas. The Iranian foreign ministry announced these sanctions, which target prominent military figures such as General Bryan P. Fenton of the U.S. Special Operations Command and Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, along with British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps and other UK officials. U.S. corporations like Lockheed Martin and Chevron, as well as British firms Elbit Systems, Parker Meggitt, and Rafael UK, are also affected.

The sanctions entail the freezing of accounts and transactions within Iran’s banking and financial systems, asset blocking within Iran’s jurisdiction, and bans on visas and entry into Iran for the individuals named.

The effectiveness of these sanctions in impacting the targeted individuals or entities, particularly regarding their assets and operations involving Iran, is not immediately clear.

This move comes in the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which intensified after an attack by Palestinian militants on October 7 that killed 1,170, mostly civilians, as reported by Israeli sources. Iran, a supporter of Hamas, has denied direct involvement in the attack. The subsequent Israeli response has resulted in significant casualties in Gaza, with at least 34,568 deaths reported by local health authorities, predominantly women and children.