The Biden administration announced a series of fresh sanctions related to Iran, targeting numerous individuals and entities in Iran, Russia, China, and Turkey due to their involvement in Tehran’s development of drones and military aircraft.
These sanctions specifically target seven individuals and four entities in the aforementioned countries, all of which have been identified as having “facilitated shipments and financial transactions” associated with the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company and its endeavors related to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and military aircraft, as stated by the U.S. Department of Treasury.
Brian Nelson, the U.S. Treasury Under Secretary of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, commented on the matter, saying, “Iran’s continued, deliberate proliferation of its UAVs enables Russia, its proxies in the Middle East, and other destabilizing actors to undermine global stability.”
He further emphasized the United States’ commitment to taking action against Iran’s UAV procurement networks, urging other jurisdictions to exercise due diligence to prevent the export of these components to Iran.
The Treasury had previously imposed sanctions on five Chinese-based companies and one individual for their involvement in selling and shipping aerospace components, including those used in drones, to the Iranian company.
Despite recent diplomatic developments, with five Americans returning from Iran, U.S. officials have indicated that more sanctions targeting Iran are anticipated.
