The US government on Tuesday imposed new sanctions on individuals and entities in Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and China for their alleged role in an Iranian weapons-buying network. The action is part of President Donald Trump’s wider strategy of ratcheting up pressure on Tehran.
US Treasury Department, together with the Department of Justice, sanctioned two individuals and six companies for allegedly facilitating the purchase of components for Iran’s drone program. The individuals and firms targeted were accused of providing components for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) produced by a prominent Iranian defense company.
Iran’s proliferation of missiles and UAVs both to its regional terrorist proxies and to Russia to use against Ukraine remains to threaten civilians, US personnel, and our partners,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. “We will continue to disrupt Iran’s military-industrial network and its arms supply to destabilizing forces.
The list of sanctions consists of one Iran-based entity, two Iranian nationals, four UAE-based companies, and one China-based company, the Treasury Department said.
It is the second set of sanctions against Iranian arms proliferators under Trump’s revival of his “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran. Under the strategy, his administration has worked to reduce Iran’s oil sales to zero and tighten economic measures to slow its nuclear program.
During the weekend, Trump warned Iran with military retaliation and economic sanctions if it refused to comply with Washington’s ultimatum over its nuclear program. During his initial term in office, he pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, imposed blanket sanctions, and increased controls over Tehran’s uranium enrichment activity.
Though Iran maintains its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, Western countries accuse it of pursuing weapons capability. The new sanctions reflect growing tensions between Tehran and Washington.