Amid Iran's Ballistic Missile Program, U.S. Announces New Sanctions, Pledges More

The Biden Administration on Tuesday announced fresh sanctions against a group of people and firms from Iran, China and Hong Kong associated with the development of Iran’s ballistic missile program, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

The move came as the mullah regime has reportedly presented what it described as its first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missile.

Among the sanctioned targets are several executives at Qingji, the China-based firm Zhejiang Qingji, the Hong Kong-based Lingoe Process Engineering Limited, and others.

The U.S. “will continue to target illicit transnational procurement networks that covertly support Iran’s ballistic missile production and other military programs.”Treasury Department's Undersecretary Brian Nelson said in a statement.

"Today’s actions include the designation of Iran’s Defense Attaché in Beijing, Davoud Damghani, who has coordinated defense-related procurements from the PRC for Iranian end-users," the State Department said in a separate statement.

The network has “facilitated procurement of sensitive and critical parts and technology for key actors in Iran’s ballistic missile development,” including the Islamic Republic's Defense Ministry, U.S. officials say.

"The United States" remains firmly committed to using every tool at our disposal to disrupt Iran’s procurement networks, and we will work with allies and partners to hold Iran accountable for its actions," State Department said.

Alex Raufoglu