US Imposes Sanctions on Individuals and Entities Aiding Iran in Shahed Drone Production

The United States Department of the Treasury announced on Wednesday that it has imposed sanctions on five legal entities and two individuals from Iran, China, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates who have been assisting in the supply of components for Iran's Shahed drone production program. The relevant statement was posted on the department's website.

According to representatives of the Treasury, this network of companies and individuals provided assistance in the supply of components and financial transactions for the procurement of engines, which are critical components for Iran's Shahed series drones.

" Iranian-made drones remain a key tool in Russia's attacks on Ukrainian citizens and critical infrastructure," said Brian Nelson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the US Department of the Treasury.

The sanctions list also includes the Iranian company Pishgam Electronic Safeh Company, which purchased thousands of engines worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, as well as its director.

Sanctions have also been extended to a Hong Kong-based company that fulfilled several engine orders totaling over a million dollars. Additionally, sanctions were imposed on two Turkish firms and one firm from the United Arab Emirates that facilitated financial operations for Iran.

This marks the ninth round of sanctions by the United States against Iran's Shahed drone production program, aimed at curbing Tehran's illicit activities and deterring further military support from Russia.

It is known that Iran supplies Shahed-136 UAVs to Russia for use in their full-scale invasion of Ukraine. One of the engines, procured through the exposed network, was discovered among the remnants of a recently downed Iranian drone, launched by Russia.

This week, the United States also imposed restrictions on a number of companies from Russia and China that provided support to the Russian military in the field of drones. Some of these companies were previously mentioned in journalistic investigations related to components for Russian drones, particularly the "Orlan-10."

Previously, the United States imposed sanctions against a network of companies from Iran, China, Russia, and Turkey that were involved in smuggling components for the production of Iranian aircraft and drones.