New EU Sanctions Against 9 Individuals and Entities; Quds Force Commander and Defense Minister Sanctioned

On Friday, June 1, the European Union sanctioned six individuals and three entities of the Islamic Republic due to their roles in transferring drones to Russia and supplying drones and missiles to 'militant groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea.' The EU sanctions were imposed simultaneously with U.S. sanctions against four individuals and one entity related to Iran's drone program. The sanctioned individuals include: Ismail Qaani, Commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Mohammad Reza Qaraei Ashtiani, Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Support; Gholamali Rashid, Commander of the Central Headquarters of Khatam al-Anbiya; Afshin Khajefard, a manager at Iran Aviation Industries Organization, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Defense; Hossein Hatefi Ardakani, Chairman of the Board and shareholder in Kavaneh Electronic Behrad LLC; and Mehdi Dehghani Mohammad Abadi, CEO, board member, and shareholder in Kavaneh Electronic Behrad LLC. The sanctioned entities include: the Central Headquarters of Khatam al-Anbiya, which is a central authority in the command chain of the Islamic Republic's armed forces responsible for operational and military decision-making regarding drone transfers; the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is equipped with missiles and drones manufactured in the Islamic Republic and participates in asymmetric conflicts. According to the European Council's statement, members of the Islamic Republic's proxy groups receive training in missile launching and drone usage at the Navy Academy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Kavaneh Electronic Behrad LLC, responsible for supplying and selling servo motors and other components related to drone manufacturing to the IRGC's Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization. The draft 'Tomaaj Law' was presented in the U.S. Congress aimed at combating human rights violations by the Islamic Republic's judiciary. The EU will sanction 9 individuals and entities affiliated with the Islamic Republic. New Zealand sanctioned several individuals and entities related to the Iranian government for supporting Russia in the Ukraine war. Australia and the EU sanctioned several officials and entities of the Islamic Republic. The U.S., U.K., and Canada imposed coordinated sanctions against the Islamic Republic.