5 More Iranians Sanctioned by Australia After Missile Attack on Israel

People visit the site of the remains of an Iranian missile in the Negev desert near Arad on Oct. 3, 2024, in the aftermath of an Iranian missile attack on Israel. MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

The Australian government has sanctioned five Iranian individuals involved in Iran’s missile program.

The Magnitsky-style sanctions target two directors and a senior official in Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organisation, the director of the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group and the commercial director of the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group.

According to a statement on Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s website, the sanctions were imposed because the missile program threatened regional and international security.

On Oct. 1, Iran launched more than 180 ballistic missiles into Israel, which the Australian government says was a “dangerous escalation that increased the risk of a wider regional war.”

“Iran’s proxies continue to launch daily attacks across the region, using missiles and other military equipment provided by Iran,” the statement said.

“Iran’s delivery of ballistic missiles to Russia last month to aid its war against Ukraine further demonstrates Iran’s destabilising role.”

Australia has so far placed sanctions on 200 Iranian individuals and entities, with almost 100 of them being linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“Australia will continue to hold Iran to account for its reckless and destabilising actions,” the statement said.

The announcement comes as the United States prepares to send troops to Israel, along with an advanced anti-missile system to help strengthen the country’s air defences.

The U.S. government will send around 100 troops to oversee the use of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system.

Magnitsky-Style Laws Different from Usual Sanctions

Magnitsky-style laws differ from usual sanctions as they act against citizens rather than nations.

Targets of the laws, which Australia adopted in 2021, are intended to be severe perpetrators of prominent human rights atrocities.

These could include cyber hackers, corrupt generals, cronies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, or Chinese Communist Party officials accused of serious offences.

The Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Thematic Sanctions) Bill 2021 prevents serious offenders from seeking safe haven in foreign countries for their family members or their assets.

More than 20 countries have adopted similar laws based on the 2012 Magnitsky Act, which came about following the death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky after he uncovered $230 million fraud involving Russian tax officials.

‘Do Not Travel’ Warning

The move comes amid an increasingly tense situation in the Middle East.

The Australian government has now listed Israel as the latest Middle Eastern country Australians should prepare to leave and are advised not to travel to.

Authorities have warned Australians in Israel of the ongoing threat of missile and rocket attacks as well as terror attacks. It has also cautioned against travelling to areas near the border with Lebanon.

Following Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, Israel launched a war against Hamas in Gaza, while rocket fire from Lebanon and Iran has targeted Israel.

Israel is now at war with Hezbollah in Lebanon and has targeted senior Iranian officials.

Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran have threatened further attacks.