U.S. Sanctions Senior Officials At Iranian Drone Manufacturer

The Biden Administration on Friday imposed sanctions on 8 senior officials at an Iranian drone manufacturer in response to Tehran’s provision of drones to Russia for its war against Ukraine, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

The manufacturer, Paravar Pars Company, was already under sanction in the U.S. and the EU for producing drones for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force, and now Washington targets the company’s board of directors: Hossein Shamsabadi, Ali Reza Tangsiri, Abualfazl Nazeri, Mohsen Asadi, Mohammad Sadegh Heidari Mousa, Abulfazl Salehnejad and Mohammad Reza Mohammadi.

As a result of the latest sanctions, all property and interests in property of the individuals and entities that are in the U.S. or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and all transactions by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons are prohibited.

In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals or entities designated yesterday may themselves be exposed to sanctions.

Washington also took action against 2 Iranian vessels. The IRIS MAKRAN, “an oil tanker that was repurposed for naval operations" but still has the capability to launch drones is "currently conducting an international voyage," according to the State Department. The tanker is accompanied by the naval frigate IRIS DENA.

“Iranian entities continue to produce UAVs for Iran’s IRGC and military. More broadly, Iran is supplying UAVs for Russia’s combat operations to target critical infrastructure in Ukraine,” Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement.

"The United States will continue to use every tool at our disposal to disrupt and delay these transfers and impose costs on actors engaged in this activity," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.