Australia announces new sanctions on Iran after missile attack on Israel
Australia has imposed sanctions on “five Iranian individuals contributing to Iran’s missile program” after Tehran’s attack on Israel on October 1.
“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,” Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said in a statement.
Iran said it targeted three Israeli military bases with missiles in retaliation for the killings of the leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas and a senior general from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The new sanctions are in addition to approximately 200 Iran-linked individuals already facing sanctions from Australia, the statement said. As we reported earlier, the United Kingdom made a similar announcement of new sanctions, also in response to the October 1 attack, on Monday.
The Albanese Government has now sanctioned 200 Iran-linked individuals and entities, including almost 100 individuals and entities with links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
We will continue to hold Iran to account for its reckless and destabilising actions.
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) October 14, 2024
Australian aid group calls for sanctions on Israel
The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) has called on the Australian government to impose sanctions on Israeli officials in response to Israel’s deadly siege on the north of the Gaza Strip.
“Engaging in siege tactics of civilians, sealing people off from humanitarian assistance and causing further starvation are all illegal under the Geneva Conventions,” said Marc Purcell, ACFID’s chief executive officer.
ACFID, which represents dozens of Australian aid organisations, highlighted inconsistencies in sanctions imposed by the Australian government.
As we reported earlier, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced new sanctions on Iranian officials on Tuesday, following Iranian attacks on Israel, which reportedly caused no civilian casualties.
A protester holds a photo of Australian Zomi Frankcom, who was one of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers killed in an Israeli drone attack in April
Australian sanctions on Iran ‘hypocritical’: Jewish advocacy group
The Jewish Council of Australia has called on the Australian government to “use all possible pressure to stop Israel committing the crime of genocide”, including through sanctions, after the Australian government announced new sanctions on Iran.
The progressive Jewish group highlighted that more than 400,000 people are at “severe risk of starvation in northern Gaza”, where no food has entered since October 1, according to the World Food Programme.
Australian foreign minister “Penny Wong’s issuing of new sanctions on Iran today is hypocritical in the extreme”, said Max Kaiser, the executive officer of the Jewish Council of Australia.
“We are still waiting for the Australian government to take any substantial action against the Israeli government,” Kaiser added.
MEDIA RELEASE: North Gaza siege demonstrates urgent need to cut ties and sanction Israel
The Jewish Council of Australia renews our calls for the Albanese Government to use all possible pressure to stop Israel committing the crime of genocide.
Yesterday, an Israeli strike…
— Jewish Council of Australia (@jewishcouncilAU) October 15, 2024
