UK Defense Secretary Dismisses Iranian Sanctions

UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps has branded recent sanctions imposed on him by Iran as a misguided attempt at intimidation.

He said of Thursday's announcement by the Iranian foreign ministry of 25 US and UK individuals and entities, "If Iran thinks that these latest sanctions will intimidate anyone then they’re completely misguided ... Iran is responsible for much regional instability through their illegal network of terror proxies: Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, Iran-linked militias and their direct attacks."

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the American targets were sanctioned due to their “support and financing” of Israel’s “terrorist acts”, referring to the war in Gaza, sparked by Iran-backed Hamas's invasion of Israel on October 7. Iran also claimed it was for and “gross human rights violations” against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, as Israel's relentless response to the atrocities of October 7, in which 1,200 mostly civilians were murdered, has left much of Gaza razed.

Among the sanctioned US entities are defense firms such as Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics Corporation, and Skydio. Notably, the sanctions also targeted individuals including Jason Brodsky, Policy Director of United Against Nuclear Iran, and US Army General Bryan P. Fenton.

Iran, branded the world's number one state sponsor of terror by the US last year, claimed the British individuals and entities faced sanctions for their "deliberate support and facilitation of the Israel regime’s actions..."

The British entities include defense companies Elbit Systems and Parker Meggitt, while the individuals include British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, Commander of the British Army Strategic Command James Hockenhull, and Chief of Defense Intelligence Adrian Bird.