Iran looks to boost missile program, even with new US restrictions

Iran believes it can boost its missile program now that sanctions have expired. However, the US indicated that it would take steps to continue some restrictions on Iran’s missiles. “Russia said on Tuesday that transfers of missile technology to Iran no longer needed Security Council approval as of Wednesday, when the UN sanctions lapse, without saying whether it now planned to support Tehran's missile development,” Reuters noted. 

The expiration of the sanctions were part of the 2015 nuclear. The missile issue is important. Iran supports Hamas and Hezbollah. Hamas has fired thousands of missiles at Israel during the war that began on October 7 with a massacre of Israelis. Hezbollah also continues to carry out attacks.  

“The United States said it would level new sanctions against entities and individuals involved in Iran's missile, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and conventional arms industries. It also issued an advisory to businesses designed to prevent dual-use technologies getting to Iranian actors,” Reuters noted. "These sanctions will exert pressure on Iran's missile and UAV program in addition to constraining Iran's conventional arms transfers and ongoing military relationships with countries like Venezuela and Russia, including Iran's provision of UAVs that Moscow is using against civilian targets in Ukraine," a senior State Department official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity, Reuters also said. READ MORE