US Expands Sanctions On Iran's Energy Sector, Cuts Funds To Hezbollah-Hamas

JAKARTA - The United States (US) government is expanding sanctions against Iran's two energy sectors in an effort to cut revenues that Tehran says are using to fund proxy groups and trigger instability in the region.

The move on Friday, October 11 was taken in response to Tehran's missile attack on Israel earlier this month, the Treasury Department said in a press release reported by CNN.

This comes as the region is concerned about potential chaos as Israel considers a possible reply to the attack.

"Setelah serangan Iran pada 1 Oktober yang belum pernah terjadi sebelumnya terhadap Israel, Amerika Serikat dengan jelas menyatakan bahwa kami akan menerapkan konsekuensi terhadap Iran atas tindakannya," kata Menteri Luar Negeri Antony Blinken.

"To achieve this goal, today we are taking steps to cut off the revenue streams used by the Iranian regime to fund its nuclear and missile development programs, support terrorist proxies and partners, and perpetuate conflicts across the Middle East," Blinken said.

Hezbollah, which is Israel's target in Lebanon, and Hamas, which Israel is fighting in Gaza, are two members of the axis of the militant group funded by Iran, which also operates in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.