Iran slaps sanctions on US, UK over Israel support

Iran announced on Thursday sanctions on several American and British individuals and entities for supporting Israel in its war on Gaza.

The Islamic Republic, the regional arch-foe of Israel, unveiled the punitive measures in a statement from its foreign ministry.

It said the sanctions targeted seven Americans, including General Bryan P. Fenton, commander of the US special operations command, and Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, a former commander of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.

British officials and entities targeted include Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps, commander of the British Army strategic command James Hockenhull and the UK Royal Navy in the Red Sea.

Penalties were also announced against US firms Lockheed Martin and Chevron and their British counterparts, Elbit Systems, Parker Meggitt, and Rafael UK.

The ministry said the sanctions include "blocking of accounts and transactions in the Iranian financial and banking systems, blocking of assets within the jurisdiction of the Islamic Republic of Iran as well as prohibition of visa issuance and entry to the Iranian territory".

The impact of these measures on the individuals or entities and their assets or dealings with Iran remains unclear.

The US said it expects its allies to follow suit in sanctioning Iran following Tehran attack on Israelhttps://t.co/5HtYxS0UEp

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This comes after the US said they would issue new sanctions on Iran's missile and drone programme after it attacks Israel and that it expects its allies and partners to follow with parallel measures.

The UK had also slapped fresh sanctions against Iran's drone and missile industries after its recent retaliatory attack on Israel, following the US and Canada.

The war on the Gaza Strip erupted after the 7 October attack by Hamas, which has since killed at least 34,596 people and wounded 77,816.

Iran backs Hamas but has denied any direct involvement in the attack.