US, Canada and Britain impose new sanctions on Iran

The US, Canada and Britain imposed new sanctions on Iran on Thursday in response to the Iranian attack on Israel.

The measures primarily focus on the trade and manufacture of drones, after the major attack by Tehran on Israel with more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and rockets.

Israeli air defences and allied forces were able to intercept almost all of the weapons.

Iran said it launched that assault as retaliation for Israel hitting an Iranian diplomatic compound in the Syrian capital Damascus on April 1, which killed two Iranian generals among others.

On Thursday, the US government said the sanctions were imposed on 16 companies, eight individuals, several ships and one aircraft said to be supporting Iran in the procurement of unmanned aerial vehicles.

A British government statement said four companies and two individuals were sanctioned for their involvement in Iranian drone production. London also further restricted the export of components that can be used to build drones.

"Today the UK and our partners have sent a clear message – we will hold those responsible for Iran’s destabilising behaviour to account," said British Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

"Alongside our partners, we will continue to tighten the net on Iran’s ability to develop and export these deadly weapons," he said.