The U.S. Imposes New Sanctions Related to Iran's Drone Assistance to Russia

On Thursday, April 25, the U.S. issued new sanctions concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia. According to a statement from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, these new sanctions affect Poya Air, eight individuals, five ships, and fifteen entities. The U.S. Treasury Department stated that these individuals, entities, and ships played a central role in facilitating and financing the covert sale of drones to the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics of the Islamic Republic, which itself supports the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Russia's war in Ukraine. According to this statement, the company 'Tondar Sahra' is the main company overseeing the propaganda of the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics of the Islamic Republic in support of these efforts. This company has also played a major role in the design, development, construction, and sale of thousands of drones, many of which were ultimately transferred to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine. European Union foreign ministers also agreed on Monday, April 22, to expand sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran's missile and drone programs. Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, stated that a political agreement was reached to expand sanctions against the Islamic Republic's drone program and to extend these sanctions to missile programs and the potential transfer of missiles to Russia. The U.S. Treasury Department's statement indicated that the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Defense continues to create instability in the region and the world by supporting Russia's war in Ukraine, conducting unprecedented attacks on Israel, and proliferating drones or providing other dangerous military tools to its proxy terrorist groups. Brian Nelson, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, stated that the United States, in close coordination with its British and Canadian partners, will continue to use all available tools to counter those financing the destabilizing activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Poya Air, a cargo airline, has been sanctioned for transferring drones and related shipments from Iran to Russia on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This airline was also sanctioned 12 years ago for transferring weapons to the Islamic Republic's proxy groups in the Middle East. Another sanctioned entity by the U.S. is the private company 'Bonyan Danesh Shargh,' a drone manufacturer that produces quadcopters, motors, and electronic and digital components, participating in a wide range of commercial activities in both public and private sectors and acting as a commercial intermediary for the 'Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization of the IRGC.' Simultaneously, the UK also placed four businesses and two managers on its sanctions list in a network of drone companies aimed at limiting the Islamic Republic's ability to launch drones. The European Parliament resolution: the IRGC and the entirety of Hezbollah must be placed on the list of 'terrorist organizations.' Moscow: Ukraine has attacked Russian energy facilities with dozens of drones. U.S. warning about 'China's support for Russia in its aggression against Ukraine.' A Foreign Ministry official: 'Further actions' will be taken if necessary. Israel welcomes the EU's action to impose further sanctions against the IRGC and the Islamic Republic. The U.S. has placed several Chinese and Russian entities on the 'blacklist' due to their connection with the Islamic Republic's drone program.