Days after Iran’s unprecedented and largely unsuccessful bombarding of Israel, the U.S. and U.K. levied additional sanctions on the regime’s manufacturers and sources of materiel. The joint move targeted 16 people and two organizations supporting Tehran’s arms industry, including those tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its UAV production arm. The economic slap is meant to debase Tehran’s growing arms industry, which includes drones and missiles being disseminated to various forces around the globe.
More than 600 people and entities tied to Iran’s malign activity have been targeted in sanctions in the last three years by the Treasury Department. Iranian technologies are being utilized by multiple countries and militant groups due to the regime’s goal of international influence. Iran has transitioned from a customer to a producer and proliferator of drones, with the Shahed being a popular model in countries like Russia and Sudan.
Iran’s drone attack on Israel included approximately 170 drones, 120 ballistic missiles, and 30 cruise missiles. Almost all the overhead threats were intercepted with external support. The Shahed drones used in the assault have gained popularity due to their capabilities and relatively low cost. Tehran is positioning itself as an arms supplier to the third world and is pushing to become a major player in the arms trade.
Counter-drone armaments like directed energy weapons are in high demand to defend against the increasing use of drones in conflicts. The U.S. military is investing heavily in developing these technologies to address emerging threats, particularly from countries like Iran that are employing drones for warfare. The Pentagon is dedicating significant resources to developing directed-energy weapons to counter potential drone attacks and overhead threats posed by adversaries like Iran.
