The United States has announced new sanctions targeting individuals and entities operating weapons procurement networks linked to Iran, with activities spanning Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates.
Washington said those sanctioned were involved in supporting Iran’s ballistic missile program and its advanced conventional weapons development.
In addition, the U.S. government designated several so-called shadow fleet vessels, along with their owners and operators, accused of transporting hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum, petroleum products, and petrochemicals in violation of sanctions.
According to U.S. officials, the Iranian government continues to mismanage its economy while directing resources toward foreign proxy groups and missile programs instead of addressing the needs of its citizens.
State Department spokesperson Thomas Pigott said on Wednesday that the latest measures are designed to cut off “illicit funds that the regime uses to advance its malign and destabilizing ends.”
The action enforces President Donald Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum 2, aimed at countering what Washington described as the Islamic Republic’s aggressive expansion of missile and other asymmetric and conventional weapons capabilities.
Pigott added that the sanctions also restrict the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from accessing resources that sustain its destabilizing operations.
U.S. authorities said the latest nonproliferation designations align with the reimposition of United Nations embargoes and sanctions on Iran, which Washington attributes to Tehran’s alleged significant non-compliance with its nuclear obligations.
The United States reaffirmed its commitment to using all available tools to “expose, disrupt, and counter” Iran’s efforts to generate revenue for its weapons programs and other destabilizing activities.
The announcement follows additional sanctions imposed last week on 18 Iranian officials, telecommunications industry figures, and their immediate family members in connection with shootings during 40-day memorial events marking the January killings.
Overall, the current U.S. restrictive measures are said to affect about 60 individuals accused of participating in, or being linked to, serious human rights violations against the Iranian people.
