US Imposes New Iran Sanctions Targeting Drone, Missile Networks
- By RFE/RL
The United States has imposed a new round of sanctions targeting "eight individuals and four entities" that operate multiple procurement networks accused of helping Iran obtain weapons and rebuild missile and drone stockpiles damaged in recent US-Israeli strikes.
The measures, announced by the US Treasury Department on April 21, also block two aircraft linked to Mahan Air, which Washington says has transported Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps personnel, weapons, and funds.
Those targeted are based in Iran, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates and were cited for procuring or transporting weapons or components on Tehran’s behalf.
The US Treasury said Iran was seeking to “reconstitute its production capacity” as the United States continued to deplete Tehran's ballistic missile inventories. It added that Iran increasingly relied on "Shahed-series one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles" -- drones -- to target the United States and its allies, including energy infrastructure in the region."
The sanctions come as Washington and Tehran remained deadlocked over whether to begin a second round of talks aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war, which began on February 28.
A two-week cease-fire announced by President Donald Trump is due to expire on April 22.
Brett Erickson, who heads Obsidian Risk Advisors, told RFE/RL that the designations were significant for focusing on “Shaheds and missile precursors,” which underpin Iran’s asymmetric warfare capabilities.
He added that the sanctions were "aimed squarely at the engine behind Iran’s maritime disruption strategy.”
"Drones, missiles, and irregular operations all depend on supply chains that have to be constantly fed. The goal is to starve that system," he said. "The bet is that without this replenishment pipeline, the ability for Iran to target shipping within the strait eventually runs out of fuel."
With reporting by RFE/RL Washington correspondent Alex Raufoglu and Reuters.
US, Israel Have 'Diverging' Goals For Iran, Says Vance
US Vice President JD Vance said that the United States and Israel have different goals when it comes to dealing with Iran.
He told Fox News on June 8 that although the United States and Israel "share many common interests," their interests "also diverge" in some areas, particularly regarding Iran. He noted that Israel "clearly has its own goals," while the United States remains focused on ensuring that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon.
Vance argued that recent diplomacy has created the "necessary space" for a long-term agreement and said a future deal would differ from the 2015 nuclear accord because "there was no proper inspection system that would guarantee that the Iranians would never be able to build a nuclear weapon."
Addressing concerns about Iranian intentions, he remarked that "everyone is always trying to outplay the other side" in negotiations.
The United States wants to "verify in the long term that the Iranians are adhering to their commitments," Vance said, adding: "The Iranians don't want this war to continue; it's not in their interest." He said a successful agreement would be "a great victory for the American people."
Trump Says Helicopter Crew 'Fine' After Strait Of Hormuz Crash
US President Donald Trump said the pilots of a military helicopter that crashed near the Strait of Hormuz are "fine."
The incident, first reported by The New York Times, involved a US Army Apache helicopter, with the two crew members safely rescued, according to two people briefed on the matter.
It remains unclear whether the helicopter was struck by Iranian fire, suffered a mechanical failure, or experienced another issue, one of the sources told NYT, speaking on condition of anonymity and noting the incident is under investigation.
Trump, speaking to reporters at John F. Kennedy International Airport after attending the NBA Finals in New York, also said the US government would release a report on the incident on June 9.
We are now closing the live blog for the day. We'll be back at 7:30 a.m. Central European time to cover the latest events across the Middle East.
Trump Says He Asked Netanyahu To Halt Further Strikes On Iran
US President Donald Trump said he warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel risked finding itself isolated if it further escalated its conflict with Iran, according to media reports.
Trump said during a phone call with Israel's Channel 12 late on June 7 that he asked Netanyahu not to respond to Iranian ballistic missile attacks.
According to a parallel report by Axios, Trump said: "Bibi, you better be careful, or you will be on your own very soon."
According to Channel 12, several Trump aides who were on the call believed the president had secured a few more days to allow US-Iran negotiations to continue. However, Netanyahu later informed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Israel would carry out strikes inside Iran.
Trump told Channel 12 that Washington was informed of the operation only at the last minute, when missiles were already en route, and claimed he succeeded in limiting its scope.
He also said five regional countries involved in mediation efforts had urged him to pressure Israel to avoid further escalation because they "love the deal that we have been negotiating."
Trump added that Iranian officials later told Washington they would not launch additional attacks and asked Israel to stop striking Iran.
He said he subsequently persuaded Netanyahu to halt further attacks and maintained that a US-Iran agreement remains within reach.
Netanyahu said on June 8 that “fire is on hold” against Iran after Tehran said it was halting its attacks on Israel.
With reporting by The Times Of Israel
Flights In Iran To Resume
Iran’s civil aviation authority said the country’s airspace has returned to normal conditions and flights will resume.
The announcement on June 8 came hours after the regulator said that all flights from the country's airports would be suspended until further notice.
The decision to reopen Iranian airspace came soon after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “fire is on hold” against Iran, after Tehran ended its attacks on Israel.
Netanyahu Says Israel Has Paused Fire Against Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a short video released by his office on June 8 that “fire is on hold” against Iran, after Tehran ended its attacks on Israel.
But Netanyahu, speaking for the first time since Iran launched missiles at Israel on June 7, warned that should Tehran “make the mistake of resuming attacks against us, we will respond with full force.”
Netanyahu said the Islamic republic had tried to “force a new equation” by firing at Israel in retaliation for its attacks in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah, an armed group allied with Iran. “This equation is unbearable, and unacceptable to me,” he said.
The prime minister also stopped short of saying that US President Donald Trump had ordered Israel to halt attacks against Iran.
In his talks with Trump, Netanyahu said he argued for Israel’s “right to self-defense.”
“Israel has the full right to self-defense, and we are exercising it as required,” Netanyahu said in the video message to Israelis. “I’m saying this to you, just as I’ve said so with appreciation and respect in my good conversations with my friend President Trump.”
All Flights From Iranian Airports Suspended
The Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) has reported that all flights from the country's airports have been suspended until further notice.
Citing the Iran Airports and Air Navigation Company on June 8, ISNA said that the authority had also urged all passengers not to travel to airports until normal operations are officially announced in order to maintain order and prevent confusion.
Previously, Iran's aviation authority had imposed a flight ban only for parts of the country
Hours before announcement, Tehran said that operations by the Islamic republic's armed forces against Israel had been halted.
At the same time, the head of Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization said that, due to disruptions affecting return flights for pilgrims, delays of up to 72 hours are possible on some flights.
With reporting by Reuters and RFE/RL's Radio Farda
Israel Is Halting Strikes On Iran, Says Israeli Official
Shortly after Tehran announced it was halting operations against Israel, the Israeli outlet Channel 12 has quoted an unnamed senior official as saying that Israel would also pause its strikes on Iran, though there has been no official statement yet.
Earlier today, Iran’s military central command announced a halt to its strikes against Israel, declaring it had delivered a "painful response" to Israel over strikes on Beirut's Dahiyeh district -- but warned that any continuation of Israeli aggression would bring "far more intense and crushing" retaliation.
The announcement came shortly after US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that "both sides, Israel and Iran, are looking to do an immediate cease-fire," adding that final negotiations on a US-Israel peace deal were proceeding and that a US blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until a final agreement is reached.
Iran Halts Strikes Amid Trump Cease-Fire Remarks
Iran has said it is halting its military operations against Israel.
The announcement follows multiple waves of strikes between Iran and Israel and comes shortly after US President Donald Trump stated that Iran and Israel were "looking to do an immediate cease-fire."
Iranian media citied the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which serves as Iran's joint military command, as adding that any further attacks, including those in southern Lebanon, will be met with "much more severe and crushing" retaliation.
Israel Says US Military 'Coordinated' On Intercepting Iranian Missiles
A spokesperson for the Israeli military said that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) had "coordinated" with Israel on defense and "participated" in intercepting missiles fired by Iran at Israel on June 7.
Speaking at a press conference in Tel Aviv on June 8, Israeli Army spokeswoman Efi Dufferin said that the cooperation between the two allied countries was in the "defense" sector.
A US defense official had previously stressed that his country was not involved in Israel's bombing operations in Iran on June 8.
An unnamed senior Israeli officer reportedly said on June 8 that Israel's attacks on Iran "were carried out without any American assistance" and that the United States only helped Israel defend itself and intercepted one of the 11 missiles that Iran fired on June 7.
The source added that Israeli Army Commander Eyal Zamir spoke with CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper "three times" in the past 24 hours, and that missile defense systems are on standby.
The officer also reported the presence of a delegation of Israeli military personnel in the United States, whose trip apparently began before Iran's missile attacks on Israel.
Dufferin also said on June 8 that Iran had violated the two-month cease-fire by firing missiles on June 7, which "may indicate the inability of Iranian officials to sign an agreement with the United States, and they violated the cease-fire to buy time."