US Discusses New Sanctions for Iran, Israel Hasn't Decided on Counterattack

Israel's War Cabinet meeting debates Iran. The new US sanctions aim to weaken Iran's military and weapons production.

AFP/GIL COHEN-MAGEN

Israeli military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari (right), and his deputy, Masha Michelson, were photographed alongside an Iranian ballistic missile that fell in Israel last weekend during a media tour at the Julis military base, near the city of Kiryat Malachi, on April 16, 2024.

JERUSALEM, WEDNESDAY — Israel continues to consider retaliatory attacks against Iran. However, an ongoing meeting of Israel's war cabinet has been postponed as Western allies are working on new sanctions against Iran. These new sanctions are intended to prevent Israel from launching retaliatory strikes.

A source from the Israeli Government stated that the third war cabinet meeting, scheduled for Tuesday (16/4/2024) local time or Wednesday (17/4/2024) in Indonesia, has been postponed for a day without reason given. Since Iran's retaliatory attack on Israel last weekend, the Israeli war cabinet has held two meetings to determine steps to retaliate against Iran. The meeting was filled with internal cabinet debates so there has been no decision made yet.

US National Security Council Advisor Jake Sullivan said the US would immediately impose new sanctions on Iran's missile and drone programs. The US expects its allies and partners to follow suit in imposing similar sanctions.

"In the coming days, the United States will impose new sanctions on Iran, including those related to its missile and drone programs as well as Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Ministry of Defense. "We expect our allies and partners will immediately implement their own sanctions," Sullivan said in a statement published on Wednesday (17/4/2024).

Also read: Iran attacks Israel, conflict is feared to spread

AFP / MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

Former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz (center) and other members of the Israeli war cabinet met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Tel Aviv on February 8, 2024. The war cabinet of Israel consists of five members and is led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Until now, Washington has imposed sanctions on more than 600 individuals and entities related to Iran. Sullivan said that the new sanctions are expected to provide strong pressure to contain Iran and reduce its military capacity and effectiveness.

Previously, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen indicated that new sanctions were being prepared against Iran. In line with this, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that his office is working on similar sanctions.

The US Department of Treasury will not hesitate to work with US allies to continue disrupting Iran's activities. "All options to disrupt Iran's funding will be discussed," said Yellen without elaborating.

We have to stay away from the edge of the cliff.

Washington has been trying to reduce Iran's ability to export oil. Senior officials at the US Department of Treasury said that the US is also working with its G7 partners to limit Iran's access to goods needed to make weapons.

This collaboration is also being held with other countries. ”We will talk to all major suppliers around the world,” the official said.

AFP/ROBYN BECK

Protesters displayed a banner with the words "No War" against Iran during a rally calling for a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Los Angeles, California, United States on Monday (April 15, 2024).

In Brussels, Belgium, the foreign ministers of the European Union held an emergency meeting. Several member countries proposed sanctions against Iran, in the form of expanded limitations. "We must move away from the edge of the cliff," Borrell said.

Israel's bluff

Iran attacked Israel on Sunday (14/4/2024) with more than 300 missiles, drones and rockets. The impact of the attack was light. One 7-year-old child was injured in the attack. Most attacks were intercepted by Israel, the US, the Western coalition and Jordan. It is suspected that Saudi Arabia also downed many Iranian drones that entered its airspace as a form of regional defense.

Also read: Iran-Israel Conflict Escalates, Oil Prices Could Reach 100 US Dollars

Iran's attack This was in response to Israel's attack on Iran's diplomatic facilities in Damascus, Syria, which killed two Iranian generals on April 1 2024. Iran stated that any retaliatory attack from Israel would be met with greater retaliation. harder and faster.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said Tehran would no longer wait 12 days to respond.

AFPTV/AFP

The photo from the AFPTV video taken on April 14, 2024 shows an explosion illuminating the sky in Hebron, Palestine, during Iran's attack on Israel.

Several Israeli officials have threatened to retaliate against this attack. One of them is the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Armed Forces, Herzi Halevi, who pledged to retaliate against Iran's attack. However, with the debate in Israel's war cabinet, the next steps have not yet been decided.

Also read: In anticipation of Iran-Israel, the government will re-evaluate the subsidy budget

Iran's direct attack on Israel is a sign of the escalation of the Middle East conflict which has its roots in the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip which has been going on for six month. World leaders worry that this will trigger an open war by Israel and its allies against Iran and its proxies.

They urge both sides to lower tensions. US President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US would not participate in Israel's retaliatory attacks.

AP PHOTO/VAHID SALEMI

Iranian demonstrators shout anti-Israel slogans in front of the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, April 14, 2024.

The position of Israel is considered more advantageous if it does not retaliate against Iran. Yoel Guzansky, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, a think tank in Tel Aviv, said that Israel would risk support from its allies if it were to act. "Israel would benefit if it does not launch a retaliatory attack. However, if they attack, this benefit will be lost," he said.

A retaliatory attack on Iran could potentially trigger a full-scale regional war. A direct attack on Iranian territory is almost certain to result in a larger counterattack.

This will also encourage Hezbollah to take action. Hezbollah, a group in Lebanon supported by Iran, has much stronger weaponry than Hamas.

Also read: Iran's attack on Israel, how will the world respond?

About 60,000 residents in northern Israel have been displaced due to clashes with Hezbollah. The fighting in the area will result in longer displacement for Israeli residents.

Direct conflict will also further weaken the Israeli military, diverting its focus from Gaza and hindering the already weak Israeli economy due to war. Any attack on Iran may also undermine the US support which has recently declined towards Israel.

The Israeli military is far superior to other armies in the region. In addition to various high-tech weaponry, Israel also has the F35 fighter jet capable of launching long-range ammunition. Experts say that Israel has the ability to directly attack Iran or its proxies in the region.

However, Iran cannot be underestimated either. Fabian Hinz, a weapons expert and researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, stated that Iran has many missile sites and underground nuclear installations that are difficult to attack. (AP/AFP/REUTERS)