The U.S. Sanctions Five Companies and Two Individuals for Supplying 'Sensitive Parts' for Iranian-Made Drones

The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (OFAC) has sanctioned five entities and two individuals based in Iran, China, Hong Kong, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates for their involvement in procuring sensitive parts for Iranian-made drones. The Treasury Department's statement indicated that this network facilitated the transfer of shipments and financial transactions for the procurement of servo motors for the 'Shahed' drones by the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). A 'servo motor' is a rotary actuator or linear actuator that allows for precise control of angular or linear position, velocity, and acceleration. The U.S. Treasury added that the Islamic Republic of Iran has provided 'Shahed-136' drones to Russia in support of its illegal invasion of Ukraine, and one of the servo motors purchased by the sanctioned network was found in the wreckage of a Shahed-136 that was recently shot down in Ukraine. Brian Nelson, the Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated that Iranian-made drones remain a 'critical tool' for Russian attacks, instilling fear in Ukrainian citizens and targeting vital infrastructure in the country. He added that the U.S., along with its allies and partners, will continue efforts to hold accountable those involved in distributing Iranian drones in Russia or providing them to proxy forces of the Islamic Republic in the Middle East and other actors contributing to instability. The company 'Pishgam Electronic Safeh' in Iran, which, according to the U.S. Treasury statement, purchased thousands of servo motors worth hundreds of thousands of dollars for the IRGC, is among those sanctioned. Hamidreza Janqorbani, the CEO of this company, has also been added to the sanctions list. The United States has imposed multiple sanctions against the Islamic Republic due to its production and supply of combat drones to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine. On Tuesday, September 19, the Biden administration also sanctioned seven individuals and four entities in Iran, Russia, China, and Turkey for facilitating transportation and financial transactions to the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries (HESA) related to the construction of drones and military aircraft. The Ukrainian army reported that it shot down 19 Iranian-made 'Shahed' drones. Russia attacked a port in Ukraine using Iranian-made drones. The U.S. sanctioned individuals and entities in four countries due to their connection with the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries. Ukraine claims to have shot down 22 Iranian 'Shahed' drones in the skies over Odessa.