New US Sanctions Against Entities Involved in Iran's Missile and Drone Programs

On Wednesday, December 19, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Treasury Department sanctioned two entities and two individuals for their roles in developing and procuring sensitive navigation components for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to the Treasury Department's statement, the IRGC Aerospace Force's Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization and other Iranian government organizations use these essential components for the production and proliferation of drones and missiles. Concurrently with this action, the US State Department also sanctioned one individual and two entities involved in the Islamic Republic's drone and missile programs. The Treasury Department added that these sanctions were coordinated with the Department of Commerce and the Department of Justice, and that the Justice Department assisted in coordinating the arrest of one of the sanctioned individuals. Bradley Smith, Acting Deputy Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, noted the Iranian government's ongoing efforts to acquire critical components necessary for facilitating the production of ballistic missiles and drones, stating that the United States will continue its efforts to disrupt the provision of deadly weapons from the Islamic Republic to Russia, the regime's terrorist proxy groups, and other destabilizing actors worldwide. The sanctioned entities by the Treasury Department include: Rahpooyan Aflak Knowledge and Industry Company: According to OFAC's statement, this company is active in consulting, designing, producing, and supplying navigation and automation systems, including for cruise and ballistic missiles, drones, and unmanned underwater and surface vessels. Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi: He is the CEO, a board member, and a shareholder of Rahpooyan Aflak Knowledge and Industry Company. Kaveh Morat: He is the Chief Technology Officer, Chairman of the Board, and a shareholder of Rahpooyan Aflak Knowledge and Industry Company. Ilumo SA: Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi is the sole board member and CEO of this Switzerland-based company, which, according to OFAC's statement, aims solely to represent the interests of Rahpooyan Aflak Knowledge and Industry Company outside Iran, including procuring Western electronic equipment and other technologies. The US State Department also announced on Wednesday, December 19, that it had sanctioned one individual and two entities for their involvement in the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile and drone programs. According to the statement, the two sanctioned entities are involved in producing the Shahed-136 suicide drones that the Islamic Republic supplies to Russia. Seyyed Hossein Majid Mousavi Eftekhari: He is the Deputy Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, sanctioned for his involvement in the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile activities. Chakad San'at Faraz Asia: This company participates in producing Shahed series drones, particularly components for the Shahed-136 drones. Saad Sazeh Faraz Sharif: This company assists in producing Shahed series drones and provides aerospace engineering services and manufactured components used in Shahed drones. The United States and the European Union have imposed extensive sanctions in recent years against individuals and entities involved in the Islamic Republic's drone and missile programs, as well as human rights violators and those responsible for suppressing protesters. In response, the Islamic Republic, despite repeated warnings from Western countries regarding the continuation of sanctions, insists on continuing its destabilizing actions in various fields, including military and human rights. The United States sanctioned 35 entities and vessels for smuggling Iranian oil. The UK sanctioned Iran Air and the Islamic Republic's shipping. The European Union sanctioned the Islamic Republic's shipping. The US imposed sanctions against a financial network of the IRGC Quds Force. The US sanctioned the Houthis' financial network linked to the IRGC.