After failing to condemn or take action against the Israeli attack on Iran’s embassy in Syria, the White House is working on a comprehensive sanctions list targeting Tehran.
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President Joe Biden, along with members of his national security team, receive an update on an ongoing Iranian retaliatory attack on Israeli military sites, as they meet in the Situation Room of the White House in Washington, United States, April 13, 2024. (AP)
The United States is planning to impose yet another set of sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran, spurred by Tehran’s latest response to the blatant Israeli attack on Iran’s embassy in Syria.
US President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, made the announcement during a press briefing on Tuesday, stating that the US is “coordinating with allies and partners, including the G7, and with bipartisan leaders in Congress, on a comprehensive response.”
“In the coming days, the United States will impose new sanctions targeting Iran, including its missile and drone program, as well as new sanctions against entities supporting the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s Defense Ministry,” Sullivan said.
Interestingly, Sullivan pointed to Iran’s attack on Israeli military sites without mentioning the fact that it came in response to the Israeli attack on the consular section of the Iranian embassy. More importantly, the White House has failed to condemn the blatantly illegal Israeli attack on the diplomatic quarters and has failed to recognize Iran’s right to respond to the attack, as per Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
“Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to maintain international peace and security,” Article 51 of the Charter states.
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US aims to hinder Iran’s growing missile and UAV programs
In his statement, the top American advisor pointed to the efforts made by the Department of Defense and CENTCOM to expand US air defense systems in the region, including early warning systems across the Middle East.
By doing so, the White House hopes “to further erode the effectiveness of Iran’s missile and UAV capabilities.”
It is worth noting that the attack on the embassy was conducted via US-supplied F-35 stealth jets and that the US and other NATO members participated in anti-air operations during the IRGC’s retaliatory attack Saturday overnight.
“The pressure will continue. We will not hesitate to continue to take action, in coordination with allies and partners around the world, and with Congress, to hold the Iranian government accountable for its malicious and destabilizing actions,” Sullivan concluded.
Read more: “Israel” neglected Iran’s ballistic threat, Israeli forces say
