Iran has taken action against several American and British individuals and entities, accusing them of backing Israel in its conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Islamic Republic, long-standing adversaries with Israel, announced the punitive measures through a statement released by its foreign ministry.
Among the targeted individuals are General Bryan P. Fenton, who leads the US special operations command, and Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, a former commander of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet. Additionally, British officials such as Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps and military personnel like James Hockenhull of the British army strategic command have been included in the sanctions list. Entities such as US-based Lockheed Martin and Chevron, as well as British companies Elbit Systems, Parker Meggitt, and Rafael UK, are also subject to penalties.
The sanctions outlined by the Iranian ministry encompass various restrictions, including the blocking of accounts and transactions within the Iranian financial and banking systems, asset freezes in Iran, and a ban on visa issuance and entry into Iranian territory for those affected. The specific impact of these measures on the individuals, entities, and their dealings with Iran is as yet unknown.
The conflict in the Gaza Strip reignited following an attack by Palestinian militants on Israel that claimed the lives of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to figures from Israeli sources.
While Iran supports Hamas, it has denied direct involvement in the attack. In response, Israel launched a retaliatory offensive against Hamas, resulting in the deaths of at least 34,568 individuals in Gaza, predominantly women and children, based on statistics from the territory’s health ministry.
