The United States has imposed sanctions on five individuals and seven companies based in China, Hong Kong, and Iran, accusing them of aiding Tehran’s ballistic missile and drone programs. The sanctions, announced on Tuesday, target entities involved in procuring essential components for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).
The US Treasury Department stated that these sanctions expose key front companies and trusted agents through which Iran acquires these components. Brian Nelson, Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, emphasized that the US “will continue to impose costs on those that facilitate Iran’s ability to produce these deadly weapons.”
The sanctioned individuals and firms were involved in obtaining accelerometers and gyroscopes used for guidance, navigation, and control systems in MODAFL’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs. Among those sanctioned are Beijing Shiny Nights Technology Development Company in China and Electro Optic Sairan Industries in Iran.
This latest round of sanctions is part of ongoing efforts by the Treasury and State Department to punish entities contributing to Iran’s ballistic missile and UAV programs.
