Australia targets Iran's missile program with new sanctions
Australia has imposed financial sanctions and travel bans targeting individuals associated with the Iran's missile program, two weeks after Tehran's missile barrage against Israel.
Similar sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United Kingdom were enacted on Monday to curb Tehran's missile development efforts.
Tuesday’s sanctions by the Albanese government target two directors and a senior official in Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization, the director of the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group, and the commercial director of the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group.
The entities, which enhance Tehran’s military capabilities, have previously faced sanctions over their involvement in the country’s missile development and military activities. The Aerospace Industries Organization develops and produces military and civilian aerospace technologies, focusing on ballistic missiles. The Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group manufactures missile systems, while the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group specializes in liquid-fueled missiles.
“Iran’s 1 October launch of over 180 ballistic missiles against Israel was a dangerous escalation that increased the risk of a wider regional war,” the Australian statement read.
Since Iran’s recent missile barrage on Israel, its second direct attack in six months, both the region and the West are on high alert for Israel's anticipated retaliation.
According to The Washington Post, Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has given assurance to the Biden administration that Israel will refrain from attacking Iran’s nuclear or energy facilities.
Some US allies in the region have lobbied Washington to prevent Israel from striking oil facilities in Iran for fear that their own oil infrastructure would be hit in a counterattack, according to reports by Reuters and the Wall Street Journal. They have conveyed to Washington that they disapprove of Israeli or American use of their airspace for any attack on Iran or having their land used as a launchpad for any strike, the WSJ reported last week.
The US, meanwhile, expanded its sanctions last Friday, targeting Iran's so-called “ghost fleet” of ships and related companies operating in the United Arab Emirates, Liberia, Hong Kong, and other jurisdictions that reportedly facilitate the transport and sale of Iranian oil to buyers in Asia. Additionally, the State Department designated a network of companies based in Suriname, India, Malaysia, and Hong Kong for allegedly coordinating the sale and transport of petroleum and petroleum products from Iran.
The UK’s sanctions, announced this week, targeted senior figures in Iran’s army, air force and organizations linked to Iran’s ballistic and cruise missile development.
The EU sanctions, approved during a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, targeted seven individuals and seven entities involved in the transfer of military technology to Russia.
“Today’s designation includes individuals and entities responsible for the development and transfer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missiles and related technology to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine, and to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region,” read a statement by the European Council.