US Announces Sanctions on Iran Drone Procurement Network

The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on firms and individuals in Iran and Turkey accused of procuring equipment for Iranian drones, including European-manufactured engines, used in its military and weapons programs. Four firms and three people have been designated for these sanctions. Those targeted include the Iran-based Defense Technology and Science Research Center, its procurement firm Farazan Industrial Engineering Inc., and purchasing agents from the companies. Sanctions prevent American companies from conducting business with the targeted firms, while the people and firms lose access to any property or financial assets held in the United States.

According to American defense officials, Iran is supplying Russia with unmanned drones to be used on civilians as the Kremlin continues to invade Ukraine. The sanctions come after months of anti-government protests that have worsened tensions between the US and Iran.

Brian Nelson, the undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence for the Treasury, has said that “Iran’s well-documented proliferation of UAVs and conventional weapons to its proxies continues to undermine both regional security and global stability…The United States will continue to expose foreign procurement networks in any jurisdiction that supports Iran’s military industrial complex.”

By Fatima Hussein