Biden administration imposes fresh sanctions on Iran over missile attack on Israel

WASHINGTON – The Biden administration slapped fresh sanctions on Iran’s petroleum industry on Friday in retaliation for Tehran’s massive missile attack on Israel last week.

The Treasury Department announced that the sanctions would target “the shadow fleet” of tankers and illicit operators that help transport the Iranian regime’s petroleum exports in violation of existing sanctions.

The new punitive measures designate 10 entities in multiple jurisdictions and 17 vessels as “blocked property” under a federal law that allows the federal government to freeze a company’s assets and property in the United States. Those targeted are sanctioned “for their involvement in shipments of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products,” the announcement said.

The State Department announced it also is imposing sanctions on six companies and six vessels engaged in the Iranian petroleum trade.

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White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the measures will help further deny Iran the financial resources used to support its missile programs and provide support for terrorist groups that threaten the United States, its allies and partners.

The announcement was coordinated with U.S. allies and partners, Sullivan said. Many of them will announce their own measures in the coming days to hold Iran accountable for its attack on Israel, he said.

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Friday's announcement comes amid increased tensions in the Middle East one year after the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at various targets in Israel on Oct. 1, following Israel’s assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, in an airstrike in Beirut last month. Most of the Iranian missiles were shot down with the help of U.S. Navy destroyers deployed in the eastern Mediterranean. The attack was Iran’s second on Israel this year. In April, it launched 300 missiles and drones into Israel.

Israel has promised to retaliate, raising fears that what started as a regional conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas could cause a wider war that would enflame the Middle East.

Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X @mcollinsNEWS.

(This story has been updated with a new headline.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden admin revives US-Iran sanctions following Israel missile attack