United States Sanctions Russian And Chinese Companies Over Iranian Drones, Military Aircraft

On Tuesday, the Biden administration imposed new Iran-related sanctions, targeting individuals and businesses in Iran, Russia, China, and Turkey in connection with Tehran’s drone and military aircraft programmes.

According to the US Department of Treasury, the sanctions target seven individuals and four entities in the four countries that have facilitated shipments and financial transactions to the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company and its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and military aircraft efforts.

In a statement, Brian Nelson, US Treasury Under Secretary of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated, “Iran’s continued, deliberate proliferation of its UAVs enables Russia, its proxies in the Middle East, and other destabilizing actors to undermine global stability”.

“The United States will continue to take action against Iran’s UAV procurement networks, and encourages jurisdictions to exercise the due diligence necessary to prevent the export of these components to Iran”, the statement reads.

According to the Treasury, Washington previously sanctioned five Chinese firms and one individual for selling and shipping aircraft components, including parts for drones, to an Iranian company.

Even as the two countries engaged in a swap this week with five Americans liberated from Iran returning to the United States earlier on Tuesday, U.S. officials suggested further penalties on Iran were expected.

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