Iran sanctions US, UK over Gaza war

On Thursday, Iran announced sanctions of several US and British individuals and entities for supporting Israel against Hamas.

The sanctions are said to be targeted at seven Americans, including General Bryan P. Fenton, commander of the U.S. special operations command, and Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, a former commander of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet.

The targeted British officials and entities include Secretary of State for Defense 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 U.S. 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.

Recall that the war in the Gaza Strip erupted after the October 7 attack by Palestinian militants on Israel which killed 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Despite backing Hamas, Iran has denied any direct involvement in the attack.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive against Hamas has since killed at least 34,568 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.