UK, US and Canada impose more sanctions on Iran after Israel attack

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LONDON — The U.K., U.S. and Canada on Thursday announced fresh sanctions on Iran following its attack on Israel earlier this month.

In a coordinated announcement, the U.K.’s Foreign Office said Thursday it was targeting Iran’s drone and missile industries by hitting individuals and companies “closely involved” in Iran’s drone production.

Two individuals will face a U.K. travel ban and asset freeze, and four companies are subject to an asset freeze.

The U.S. Treasury simultaneously said it was “sanctioning over one dozen entities, individuals, and vessels that have played a central role in facilitating and financing the clandestine sale of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles.”

“The Iranian regime’s dangerous attack on Israel risked thousands of civilian casualties and wider escalation in the region,” British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement accompanying the announcement. “Today the U.K. and our partners have sent a clear message — we will hold those responsible for Iran’s destabilizing behavior to account.”

The U.K. and U.S. slapped sanctions on Iran last week, again mostly linked to Iranian drone production. The sanctions do not take aim at Iran’s lucrative oil industry.

The British government said Thursday it also plans to expand trade sanctions against Iran with bans on the export of components used in drone and missile production.