Britain ramps up sanctions against Iran as Biden vows revenge for deadly drone attack

Rishi Sunak calls on Tehran to ‘de-escalate’ violence in Middle East – as White House vows to take ‘all necessary actions’

The UK has joined the US in imposing new sanctions upon Iran, as Rishi Sunak urged Tehran to “de-escalate” its activities across the Middle East after a deadly strike on an American base in Jordan.

The Iranian government denied any involvement in the drone attack near the border with Syria which killed three US soldiers, as Washington vowed to take revenge on whoever was responsible.

The Joe Biden administration vowed to take “all necessary actions” to defend its troops in the region – as both the White House and No 10 blamed “Iran-aligned” militants for the strike, which also saw dozens wounded.

Republican presidential favourite Donald Trump seized upon the mounting tension in the region, arguing that his Democratic rival in the White House had put the country “on the brink of World War Three”.

Mr Sunak suggested Iran should dial down its actions across the Middle East, as his government unveiled sanctions against seven individuals linked with Iran for allegations including assassinations and threats to life in Britain.

“We are concerned and would urge Iran to continue to de-escalate tensions in the region,” the PM told broadcasters on Monday. “We absolutely condemn what has happened over the past couple of days.”

Announcing new sanctions coordinated with the US, foreign secretary David Cameron said the Iranian regime and “the criminal gangs who operate on its behalf” pose an unacceptable threat to UK security.

Rishi Sunak and his foreign secretary David Cameron have called on Iran to ‘de-escalate’ tensions (PA)

Asset freezes were announced against five Iranians and two Turks, as well as against a unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds unit, said to have targeted people in Britain.

“The UK and US have sent a clear message – we will not tolerate this threat,” said Lord Cameron, who has blamed the strike on “Iran-aligned militia groups”.

The Foreign Office said the sanctions were being imposed after an ITV investigation into plots to assassinate two presenters from the Iran International TV channel in the UK. At least 15 such threats are said to have been made since January 2022.

An Iranian that the Foreign Office said was the head of an international drug and trafficking cartel was also targeted for allegedly planning or conducting overseas attacks.

It came as it emerged that a drone was able to get past defence systems at the US military site known as Tower 22 in Jordan because it was mistaken for an American drone set to return to the base.

Officials’ preliminary conclusion – based on the deadly enemy drone flying in at a low altitude – was first reported by TheWall Street Journal.

Joe Biden‘s administration has vowed to take ‘all necessary actions’ (AP)

Mr Biden met with members of his national security team in the White House situation room to discuss the latest developments on Monday. The White House said it was not looking for war with Iran, even as the president vowed retaliatory action.

The Biden administration continues to blame Iranian-based proxies. “The president and I will not tolerate attacks on US forces, and we will take all necessary actions to defend the US and our troops,” said defence secretary Lloyd Austin.

The White House’s national security spokesman John Kirby said there would be a “very consequential response” to the drone strike in an interview with CNN. “But we don’t seek a war with Iran – we’re not looking for a wider conflict in the Middle East,” he added.

Iranian officials denied any involvement on Monday. Nasser Kanaani, spokesman for the foreign ministry, said it was “not involved in the decision-making of resistance groups” in the way they choose to “defend Palestinians”.

Earlier, Iran’s mission to the US issued a statement stating that “Iran had no connection and had nothing to do with the attack on the US base.” It added: “There is a conflict between US forces and resistance groups in the region, which reciprocate retaliatory attacks.”

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted to Telegram. The group said it had targeted three US bases in Jordan and Syria, and an Israeli oil facility in the Mediterranean.

The umbrella group for Iran-backed factions has claimed dozens of attacks against bases housing US troops in Iraq and Syria since the Israel-Hamas war began.

Since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on 7 October, regional militias have struck US military sites in Iraq more than 60 times. In Syria, they have struck more than 90 times. They have said that their strikes are in retaliation for support for Israel in its war in Gaza.

Mr Biden faces a difficult balancing act as he looks to strike back against Tehran in a forceful way, without allowing the fallout from the Gaza conflict to spread further.

The US in recent months has hit targets in Iraq, Syria and Yemen in response to attacks on its forces and to diminish the threats from Iranian-backed Houthi rebels to commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has warned of the ‘escalation’ of violence across the region (PA)

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said those behind the deadly drone strike on a US base in Jordan should be “held to account” – but also argued that everything must be done to prevent escalation.

“I am concerned about the possibility of escalation of an already dangerous situation in the Middle East,” he told broadcasters – urging the government to “do everything that we can to ensure there isn’t escalation of the conflict”.

Mr Sunak was criticised for bypassing parliament in authorising UK strikes on the Houthis. Asked whether MPs should get to vote on any further UK military action, Sir Keir said: “I think it’s important that we judge each intervention on its merits.”

Mr Trump, meanwhile, has called the attack on Tower 22 “yet another horrific and tragic consequence of Joe Biden’s weakness and surrender”.

Writing on the Truth Social platform, he claimed: “This attack would NEVER have happened if I was president, not even a chance.

“Just like the Iranian-backed Hamas attack on Israel would never have happened, the war in Ukraine would never have happened, and we would right now have peace throughout the world. Instead, we are on the brink of World War Three.”