THE White House said President Joe Biden was preparing to impose new sanctions on Iran’s missile and drone programs after Tehran attacked Israel on April 13. In what can be described as a vague announcement, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke about sanctions amid bipartisan pressure to act.
What did the White House say?
“Following Iran’s unprecedented air attack on Israel, President Biden is coordinating with allies and partners, including the G7, and with bipartisan leaders in Congress, for a comprehensive response. In the coming days, the United States will impose new sanctions against Iran, including its missile and drone program, as well as new sanctions against entities supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the ministry Iranian Defense. Sullivan said in a statement.
“We anticipate that our allies and partners will soon follow with their own sanctions. Additionally, we continue to work through the Department of Defense and U.S. Central Command to strengthen and further expand the successful integration of air and missile defense and early warning systems across the Middle East to ‘further erode the effectiveness of Iran’s missile and drone capabilities. he added.
Sullivan went on to say that under the president, “more than 600 individuals and entities linked to terrorism, terrorist financing and other forms of illicit commerce, horrific human rights abuses and support for mandated terrorist groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis and Kataib Hezbollah. He added: “The pressure will continue. We will not hesitate to continue acting, in coordination with our allies and partners around the world, as well as Congress, to hold the Iranian government accountable for its malicious and destabilizing actions.
Some critics in Congress have criticized Biden for relaxing his that of Donald Trump “maximum pressure campaign”. The campaign aimed to deprive the Iranian government of funds potentially used for nuclear technology and armed groups in Iraq, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Syria and Yemen.
