The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned six entities in Hong Kong and China for procuring UAV components for Iranian firms, supporting President Trump’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran’s military programs.
Sanctions Target Procurement Networks
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has designated six entities based in Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China.
These entities are accused of acting as front companies to facilitate the purchase and shipment of critical components for Iran’s UAV and ballistic missile programs.
This action is part of a broader effort to disrupt Iran’s ability to acquire components necessary for its weapons programs.
It supports President Trump’s maximum pressure campaign on Iran, aiming to reconstitute procurement networks after previous designations.
Entities Involved
Pishtazan Kavosh Gostar Boshra (PKGB) and its subsidiary Narin Sepehr Mobin Isatis (NSMI) are at the center of these sanctions.
Both firms have been designated by OFAC for their roles in procuring military-grade components.
Hamed Dehghan, CEO and chairman of PKGB, was previously designated for facilitating military component procurement. The sanctions aim to curb his influence over these activities.
International Trade Dynamics
- The sanctions may impact U.S. trade relations with China and Hong Kong due to targeting entities based in these regions.
- Diplomatic tensions could rise between the U.S., Iran, and China depending on their responses to these actions.
- The move underscores ongoing U.S. concerns about Iran’s military capabilities and support for proxies in the Middle East.
Security Measures
- The sanctions aim to reduce threats posed by Iranian UAVs and ballistic missiles to U.S. allies in the Middle East.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized disrupting schemes enabling Iran’s weapon exports abroad.
- This action follows similar designations made in February 2024 and August 2019 targeting procurement networks.
Iran continues to try to find new ways to procure the key components it needs to bolster its UAV weapons program through new front companies and third-country suppliers,
said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.
Treasury remains committed to disrupting the schemes that enable Iran to send its deadly weapons abroad to its terrorist proxies and other destabilizing actors,
added Secretary Bessent.
Additional Reading
Final Thoughts
The recent sanctions highlight ongoing efforts by the United States to curb Iran’s military advancements through strategic economic measures.
By targeting procurement networks, these actions aim not only at reducing immediate threats but also at long-term disruption of supply chains critical for Iranian weapon development.
Sources: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Mehr News Agency.
Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News™, an independent news organization dedicated to providing insightful analysis on current events, prepared this article.
