White House to announce new sanctions on Iran following Israel airstrike

by Filip Timotija - 04/16/24 9:19 PM ET

The White House will be imposing new sanctions on Iran, targeting Tehran’s missile and drone program, following the country’s “unprecedented” air attack on Israel, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan announced Tuesday.

The sanctions, set to take effect “in the coming days,” will penalize Tehran for its attack on Israel over the weekend.

Sullivan stated the new sanctions will target “entities” backing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s Defense Ministry.

“These new sanctions and other measures will continue a steady drumbeat of pressure to contain and degrade Iran’s military capacity and effectiveness and confront the full range of its problematic behaviors,” Sullivan said.

Iran launched more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel on Saturday night in response to an Israeli airstrike in early April that killed several Iranian military officials in Damascus, Syria. The majority of the drones and missiles were downed by Israel and its allies.

“President Biden is coordinating with allies and partners, including the G7, and with bipartisan leaders in Congress, on a comprehensive response, “Sullivan said.

“We anticipate that our allies and partners will soon be following with their own sanctions,” he said.

The U.S. has targeted Iran with sanctions, looking to prevent Tehran from obtaining or developing nuclear weapons and apply pressure on its economy.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also pointed to the sanctions during a news conference Tuesday. She warned that Iran’s conduct could lead to “economic spillovers.”

“From this weekend’s attack to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, Iran’s actions threaten the region’s stability and could cause economic spillovers,” she said on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press.

Yellen also referenced the previous sanctions the Biden administration has imposed on Iran-funded groups.

“We’ve targeted over 500 individuals and entities connected to terrorism and terrorist financing by the Iranian regime and its proxies since the start of the Administration,” Yellen said, according to AP.