The U.S. Sanctions Iran's Drone Parts Supply Network in Three Countries

On Tuesday, April 1, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Justice sanctioned a network consisting of six entities and two individuals for supplying drone parts to the Quds Aerospace Industries in Iran. This network, based in Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and China, has also played a role in supplying equipment to the Iranian Aircraft Industries (HESA) and the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group (SBIG). This action marks the second round of sanctions against Iran's arms networks since the issuance of 'Presidential Memorandum No. 2 on National Security' on February 4, 2025, which follows a policy of maximum pressure on Iran. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bansen stated, 'The proliferation of Iranian drones and missiles—whether for terrorist proxy forces in the region or for Russia to use in the war against Ukraine—continues to threaten the lives of civilians, U.S. forces, and our allies and partners. The Treasury will continue to work to disrupt Iran's military-industrial complex and the proliferation of its drones, missiles, and conventional weapons, as these often fall into the hands of destabilizing actors, including terrorist proxy forces.' Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it has charged Hossein Akbari and Reza Omidi, two Iranian nationals, and the Iranian company 'Rah Roshd' in the Eastern District of New York for conspiring to procure American technologies for Iran's offensive drones and supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (recognized as a foreign terrorist organization). The department reports that Akbari and Omidi are still at large. According to this statement, 'Rah Roshd' supplied various parts, including servo motors used in the Mohajer-6 drone, for the Quds Aerospace Industries and has sold parts to other entities, including HESA and the Shahid Bagheri Group. Companies in the UAE and China, such as Infracom and motor manufacturer Zibo Shenbo, have also collaborated with 'Rah Roshd.' Three other Emirati companies, namely Diamond Castle, Future Trends, and Phenomena, have acted as financial intermediaries for these transactions. Under these sanctions, all assets and interests of the sanctioned individuals and entities that are within U.S. territory or under the control of U.S. persons will be blocked, and any transactions with them will be prohibited. Violating these sanctions could lead to civil or criminal penalties.