US imposes fresh sanctions on those supporting Iran’s missile and drone initiatives.
The United States Imposes New Sanctions on Iran, Hong Kong, China, and Venezuela for Enabling Missile and Drone Programs
The United States has recently imposed fresh sanctions on individuals and businesses based in Iran, Hong Kong, China, and Venezuela for their involvement in Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs. These sanctions aim to disrupt the production and proliferation of missiles and drones by entities supporting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and defense ministry.
“Iran’s reckless choice to continue its proliferation of destructive UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] and other weapons prolongs numerous conflicts in regions around the world,” said Brian Nelson, undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
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The sanctions target 11 individuals, eight entities, and one cargo vessel. These include equipment firms and directors based in Iran, tech companies in Hong Kong, Chinese nationals, and Iranian officials such as Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani and Jaber Reihani, the defense attaché in Venezuela.
The specified entities will have their access to any property or financial assets in the United States blocked. Additionally, U.S. citizens, companies, and financial institutions are prohibited from engaging in certain transactions with these entities.
On top of the new sanctions, the United States has also issued guidance to notify the private sector about Iran’s missile procurement activities and the associated risks of violating the sanctions.
These sanctions come at a time when the United Nations restrictions on Iran’s missile-related activities are set to expire. However, Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that the United States has been actively working to disrupt Iran’s missile program even before the U.N. imposed these restrictions.
“We will continue to do so, using every tool at our disposal, so long as Iran poses a threat to security and stability in the Middle East region and around the world,” said Mr. Blinken.
These tools include not only sanctions but also export controls, diplomatic engagement, cooperation with the private sector, and interdictions. Mr. Blinken highlighted the destructive impact of Iran’s provision of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles to terrorist organizations and the threats they pose to Israel and other Gulf partners.
Accountability
The announcement of new sanctions coincided with President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel, demonstrating support for the U.S. ally in its conflict with Hamas, a Gaza-based terrorist organization sponsored by Iran.
Lawmakers have called for accountability for Iran in response to a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel, resulting in the deaths of numerous Israelis and Americans. However, the Biden administration maintains that no evidence has been found linking Iran to the attack.
Nevertheless, Republicans in Congress have introduced bills to refreeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets released by the Biden administration in September. Senator Thom Tillis, a co-sponsor of the Revoke Iranian Funding Act, criticized the administration’s decision, emphasizing Iran’s role as the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has also imposed sanctions on 10 Hamas members, operatives, and financial facilitators in various countries. These sanctions block financial and property transactions and prohibit U.S. persons and financial institutions from providing funds, goods, or services to or from those sanctioned.
“The United States is taking swift and decisive action to target Hamas’s financiers and facilitators following its brutal and unconscionable massacre of Israeli civilians, including children,” said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
Treasury Secretary Yellen emphasized the commitment to disrupt terror finance and prevent Hamas from raising funds to carry out atrocities. The United States will continue to use sanctions and collaborate with allies to track and seize Hamas-related assets.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Why is there a need to prevent the further proliferation of Iran’s missile and drone programs?
That Iran’s missile and drone programs have had on various conflicts around the world, and the need to prevent their further proliferation.
The fresh sanctions imposed by the United States aim to disrupt the production and proliferation of missiles and drones by entities that support Iran’s IRGC and defense ministry. In total, 11 individuals, eight entities, and one cargo vessel have been targeted by these sanctions. This includes equipment firms and directors based in Iran, tech companies in Hong Kong, Chinese nationals, and Iranian officials.
As a result of these sanctions, the specified entities will have their access to any property or financial assets in the United States blocked, and U.S. citizens, companies, and financial institutions are prohibited from engaging in certain transactions with them.
In addition to implementing these new sanctions, the United States has also issued guidance to notify the private sector about Iran’s missile procurement activities and the associated risks of violating the sanctions. This highlights the United States’ commitment to disrupting Iran’s missile program, even before the expiration of the United Nations restrictions on Iran’s missile-related activities.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that the United States will continue to use every tool at its disposal to disrupt Iran’s missile program, as long as Iran poses a threat to security and stability in the Middle East region and worldwide.
These tools include not only sanctions but also export controls, diplomatic engagement, cooperation with the private sector, and interdictions. The United States recognizes the destructive impact that Iran’s missile and drone programs have had on numerous conflicts globally and seeks to prevent their further proliferation.
Overall, the imposition of new sanctions on Iran, Hong Kong, China, and Venezuela demonstrates the United States’ commitment to disrupting Iran’s missile and drone programs and preventing their proliferation by entities supporting Iran’s military capabilities. The United States remains committed to maintaining security and stability in the Middle East and around the world, using all available means to address threats posed by Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs.
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