Iran imposes sanctions on US, UK over backing Israel's Gaza war
Iranian women walk past a painting of the national flag of Iran in Tehran, Iran, May 2, 2024. (EPA Photo)


Iran imposed sanctions Thursday on several American and British individuals and entities for supporting Israel in its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

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 U.S. special operations command, and Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, a former commander of the U.S. 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 U.K. Royal Navy in the Red Sea.

Penalties were also announced against U.S. firms Lockheed Martin and Chevron and British counterparts Elbit Systems, Parker Meggitt and Rafael U.K.

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, as well as their assets or dealings with Iran, remains unclear.

The war in Gaza was triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas incursion on Israel which killed 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

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

Israel's retaliatory offensive on the Palestinian enclave has since killed at least 34,568 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory's Health Ministry.