Australia sanctions more Iranians over missile strikes
Australia has called Iran’s missile strike on Israel a ‘dangerous escalation’ of the Middle East conflict, announcing sanctions on Iranian military figures.
People mourn over the flagged-covered coffin of Israeli soldier Sgt. Amitai Alon, killed by a Hezbollah drone attack, during his funeral near Ramot Naftali, Israel, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Australia has imposed fresh sanctions on Iranian military figures after the Middle Eastern nation’s missile strike on Israel risked “a dangerous escalation” to the regional conflict.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has announced financial penalties and travel bans on five people involved in Iran’s missile program, bringing the total sanctions announced by the Albanese government on the Islamic republic to 200 individuals.
Iran launched 180 ballistic missiles into Israel earlier in October in retaliation to Israel’s assault on Iran-backed militia Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iran’s missile barrage was a “dangerous escalation that increased the risk of a wider regional war”, Senator Wong said on Tuesday.
“Iran’s missile program poses a material threat to regional and international security,” Senator Wong said.
“Iran’s proxies continue to launch daily attacks across the region, using missiles and other military equipment provided by Iran. Iran’s delivery of ballistic missiles to Russia last month to aid its war against Ukraine further demonstrates Iran’s destabilising role.”
The sanctions targeted 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 sanctioned individuals are:
- Nader Khoon Siavash and Seyed Mirahmad Nooshin, both Directors in Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organisation (AIO)
- Mohammad Gholami, senior official in the AIO
- Sayyed Javad Musavi, Commercial Director of Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG)
- Amir Radfar, Director of Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group (SBIG)
The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council said the Government said the program poses “a material threat to regional and international security,” citing Iran’s October 1 ballistic missile attack against Israel and its provision of missiles and other equipment to its regional proxies to launch daily attacks as well as to Russia for use against Ukraine.
AIJAC Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein told J-Wire: “The announcement of sanctions against these individuals sends an important message to the Iranian regime that its destabilising and destructive proliferation and use of missiles will not be tolerated. Unfortunately, the message is undercut by the Government’s continuing reluctance to coordinate with allies regarding sanctions.
“Iran’s shipment of ballistic missiles to Russia saw all of Australia’s allies acting more than a month ago, for instance, while all our Government did was send a supportive tweet on September 11. Why did it take more than a month for Australia to announce these sanctions? Moreover, why has the Government failed to impose any new sanctions targeting the Iranian regime’s escalating support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the form of artillery and small arms ammunition, drones and other materiel since March 20, 2023?”
Dr Rubenstein noted that “All five individuals sanctioned today were sanctioned by the UK six months ago, on April 18. Siavash has been sanctioned by the European Union, Canada and the US since 2023. Musavi and Nooshin have been sanctioned by the US and Canada since 2016. Gholami has been sanctioned by the US since 2020, Radfar since 2023. Australia continues to wait months or, in some cases, years to add individuals clearly worthy of sanctions to its Consolidated List instead of acting alongside its allies.
“It is vital to coordinate the timing and targets of Australian sanctions with allies and partners to increase their impact, a key theme in AIJAC’s recent submission to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Reference Committee’s inquiry into Australia’s sanctions regime earlier this year,” he concluded.
The move comes after the US and UK governments imposed similar sanctions on Iranian individuals in response to the missile strike.
Israel has stepped up its military operations in neighbouring Lebanon, killing at least 18 people in an air strike on the Christian-majority town of Aitou in the north, the Lebanese Red Cross said.
The Pentagon said on Sunday it would send US troops to Israel along with an advanced US anti-missile system.
By: Jacob Shteyman/AAP with Reuters and J-Wire
