The Iranian government announced new sanctions on Thursday targeting several American and British individuals and entities for supporting Israel in its recent conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.
The punitive measures were unveiled in a statement from Iran’s foreign ministry. According to the statement, the sanctions targeted seven U.S. officials, including General Bryan P. Fenton, commander of U.S. special operations, and Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, formerly of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet.
On the British side, those sanctioned include Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, British army strategic command chief James Hockenhull, and the UK Royal Navy operating in the Red Sea region.
Major U.S. firms Lockheed Martin and Chevron, as well as British defense companies Elbit Systems, Parker Meggitt, and Rafael UK were also hit with penalties.
The ministry said the sanctions entail blocking of accounts and transactions in Iranian financial systems, seizure of assets within Iran’s jurisdiction, and bans on visa issuance and entry into Iran for those targeted.
The impact on the sanctioned individuals, entities and their dealings with Iran remains unclear. Iran backs Hamas but denies direct involvement in the militant group’s October 7th attack on Israel that killed 1,170 people, mostly civilians, sparking the latest conflict.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 34,568 Palestinians in Gaza, largely women and children, have been killed by Israel’s military offensive against Hamas since the violence erupted.
