Reaction to attack

UK and USA decide on new Iran sanctions

Iran fired a total of 170 kamikaze drones towards Israel at the weekend - but they were intercepted in time.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Iranian Army office)

Following the mullah regime's massive attack on Israel, the UK and the USA have decided to impose new sanctions on Iran. These affect Iran's drone program, the Ministry of Defense, the Revolutionary Guards as well as the metal and automotive industries.

With the new measures, "we are holding Iran accountable", explained Biden. According to the US Department of the Treasury, the punitive measures taken by the United States are aimed at those involved in the production of the Shahed drones, among others.

These drones were used in the first ever direct attack on Israel from Iranian territory at the weekend. The new sanctions also reportedly affect the Iranian metal and automotive industries.

EU also plans new sanctions
The conclusions of an EU summit in Brussels on Wednesday evening on the Middle East stated: "The European Union will take further restrictive measures against Iran, in particular with regard to drones and missiles." EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell had already announced work on new sanctions on Tuesday evening after a video conference of the foreign ministers of the EU states.

G7 also have drones in their sights
At the meeting of the foreign ministers of the most important democratic economic nations (G7 group) on Capri on Thursday, the Spaniard said that there was already a "system in place that prohibits the export of components for the production of drones and missiles to Iran". However, this should be reviewed again in order to "enlarge it and make it more efficient".

Since July last year, there have been restrictions on all European companies supplying components for the production of these weapons to Iran, he explained. "We will strengthen it, but it already exists," said Borrell, who was attending as an observer. "The important thing is often the implementation of a decision."

Israel sees its back strengthened
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz welcomed the EU's intention to impose further sanctions against the Islamic Republic following Iran's major attack on Israel. "This is an important step towards pulling the snake's teeth," Katz wrote on X on Thursday. He thanked "all our friends for their support and help". Katz wrote: "Iran must be stopped now, before it's too late."

Call for de-escalation
The EU also called on Israel and Iran to refrain from further mutual attacks. Iran and its allies used more than 500 rockets, cruise missiles and drones against Israel at the weekend, but these were largely intercepted. There is great concern that the conflict could spread further in the event of a harsh Israeli retaliation.

The Iranian attack was triggered by a suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus. At the beginning of the month, two generals from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards were among those killed.