United States Government Expands Sanctions On Iran

The United States government has expanded sanctions on two Iranian energy sectors in an effort to cut off revenue that it says Tehran is using to fund proxy groups and foment instability in the region.

The US Treasury Department said in a press release on Friday that the actions were taken in response to Tehran’s missile attack on Israel earlier this month.

This comes while the region is on edge about potential conflagration as Israel weighs its potential answer to that attack.

“In the aftermath of Iran’s unprecedented October 1 attack against Israel, the United States made clear that we would impose consequences on Iran for its actions,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Friday. “To that end, we are taking steps today to disrupt the flow of revenue the Iranian regime uses to fund its nuclear program and missile development, support terrorist proxies and partners, and perpetuate conflict throughout the Middle East.”

Remember: Hezbollah, which Israel is fighting in Lebanon, and Hamas, which it is fighting in Gaza, are two members of an axis of militant groups funded by Iran, which also operate in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

From CNN’s Jennifer Hansler and Betsy Klein