The United States government, in a significant move to curb Iran's military capabilities, imposed fresh financial sanctions on Tuesday targeting a network of ten individuals and companies based in Iran and Venezuela. The action aims to disrupt Iran's drone manufacturing and ballistic missile development programs, which Washington alleges threaten regional stability.
Targets of the Latest Sanctions Round
The US Treasury Department stated that these measures are designed to reinforce the reimposed United Nations sanctions concerning Iran's nuclear activities, applying further economic pressure on Tehran. Iran has consistently denied any military dimension to its nuclear program, maintaining it is solely for peaceful purposes.
The sanctioned entities are divided into three primary groups based on their alleged activities.
Venezuelan Link to Iranian Drones
The sanctions list includes one Venezuelan firm and its chairman, accused of directly engaging with Iran's drone industry. Empresa Aeronautica Nacional SA (EANSA), a Venezuela-based company, was designated for its role in maintaining, assembling, and supporting Iranian-designed Mohajer-series unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the Venezuelan military. The Treasury claims EANSA provided material assistance to Iran's Qods Aviation Industries (QAI).
Jose Jesus Urdaneta Gonzalez, the Chairman of EANSA, was also sanctioned. He is accused of coordinating UAV production efforts between the Venezuelan and Iranian armed forces on behalf of his company.
Iran's Ballistic Missile Procurement Network
A second set of sanctions focuses on individuals and a firm involved in procuring critical chemicals for Iran's ballistic missile program. Mostafa Rostami Sani, identified as a procurement facilitator and Chairman of Pardisan Rezvan Shargh, was targeted for procuring missile-related chemicals like sodium perchlorate, sebacic acid, and nitrocellulose for Parchin Chemical Industries (PCI).
The company he controls, Pardisan Rezvan Shargh International Private Joint Stock Company, was sanctioned for supporting procurement for Iran's ballistic missile program. Reza Zarepour Taraghi, the Managing Director of Pardisan Rezvan Shargh, was designated for acting on the company's behalf in support of PCI.
IRGC-Linked Technology Network
The final cluster of sanctions revolves around the Rayan Fan Group, a holding company previously blacklisted by the US, which is linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The following entities and individuals were added to the list:
- Fanavari Electro Moj Mobin Company (Fanavari): A company owned or controlled by Rayan Fan Group, allegedly connected to IRGC UAV and aerospace programs.
- Bahram Rezaei: The Managing Director of Fanavari, sanctioned for acting on its behalf and controlling related entities supporting Iran's defense sector.
- Kavoshgaran Asman Moj Ghadir Company (KAMG): A company owned or controlled by Bahram Rezaei, linked to sanctioned defense technology networks.
- Erfan Qaysari and Mehdi Ghaffari: The Managing Director and Vice Chairman of KAMG, respectively, sanctioned for acting on the company's behalf.
The Trump administration emphasized that Iran's advanced drone and missile initiatives pose a direct threat to the security of the United States and its allies in the Middle East. These sanctions freeze any US-based assets of the designated parties and generally prohibit Americans from engaging in transactions with them, aiming to isolate them from the global financial system.
