US considers Iran sanctions amid 'increasing threat' of missiles, drones

The United States is considering further sanctions against Iran by targeting supply networks used to build drones and precision-guided missiles, after concerns over their capabilities.

According to US officials, these weapons could present a greater risk to Washington and its allies than the country's burgeoning nuclear programme.

 "It's part of a comprehensive approach so we're dealing with all aspects of the Iranian threat," a senior US official told the Wall Street Journal.

US military officials revealed that there has been an increase in the use of Iran's guided missiles and drones against the US and its allies in the region.

"Iran's drones are becoming an increasing threat to our allies in the region," said another US official.

Earlier this year, the Institute for Strategic Studies revealed that Iran has developed a domestic base for its unmanned aerial vehicles in order to combat US sanctions.

However, whilst they have the knowledge and manpower to build the missiles, they still need to import components for the drones, including engines and microelectronics. It is this supply channel that the US wants to target next, which would cut off production at the knees.

The country's drone capabilities have been demonstrated in a series of attacks, including a 2019 attack that slashed crude-oil output in Saudi Arabia, which was widely believed to have come from Iran, although the country’s leaders denied it at the time.

Saudi Arabia, which is considered to be Iran's rival in the region, has been attacked more than 100 times in the past few months by ballistic missiles, small drones, cruise missiles and aerial systems fired by Iranian proxies in Yemen, officials said.

Iran has drones capable of flying 7,000 kilometres (more than 4,000 miles), the commander of its Revolutionary Guard force revealed earlier this month.

"We have drones which can fly 7,000 kilometres, without a pilot, and land back at the same spot or anywhere else," General Hossein Salami said in a speech broadcast by state television.