The United States has intensified its efforts to curb Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs by imposing sanctions on 32 individuals and entities. These operations span across seven nations, including India, China, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, and Iran itself. The State Department stated that these measures are designed to dismantle complex procurement networks that supply Iran’s advanced weapons development.
These sanctions are crucial for disrupting systems that directly support the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its manufacturing capabilities for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and long-range missiles. The move aligns with the enforcement of United Nations sanctions, which were reinstated following Iran’s failure to meet its nuclear obligations. These UN restrictions prohibit the transfer of critical weapons technologies, components, and dual-use items.
Washington is urging all UN member states to actively prevent the movement of restricted materials into Iran and to halt the country’s proliferation activities. The sanctioned networks were reportedly utilizing commercial fronts and intermediaries to move these sensitive technologies globally. This action represents a significant escalation in the ongoing campaign to contain Tehran’s weapons development and its regional destabilization efforts.
The designations are also in accordance with President Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum-2, aiming to block Iran’s access to essential funds, equipment, and foreign suppliers linked to its asymmetric warfare capabilities. The Treasury Department confirmed these designations fall under executive orders targeting weapons of mass destruction proliferation and terrorist financing. The US remains committed to dismantling Iran’s illicit procurement web, deeming its missile and UAV programs a significant threat to regional and international stability.