The United States imposed sanctions on Wednesday on a network of front companies located in China and other Asian countries that it accuses of supplying components for the manufacture of drones for the Iranian government.
The U.S. Treasury Department also sanctioned Mehdi Khoshghadam, head of the Iranian telecommunications company Pasna, for having used the Chinese companies with the aim of evading sanctions previously imposed against his company.
“The network we have sanctioned and has been procuring goods and technology for the Iranian government, its defense industry and its drone program,” Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson explained in a statement.
The official warned that Joe Biden’s administration will continue to apply sanctions against “Iran’s attempts to acquire military components that contribute to regional insecurity and global instability”.
According to the US, Pasna has been circumventing US sanctions by procuring electronic components from China-based Jotrin, Vohom and Yinke; Hong Kong-based Arttronix; Iran-based AMV AJ; and Malaysia-based Pasna International.
All these companies were sanctioned, so that their assets and properties in the United States are blocked and sanctions will be imposed against those who carry out any economic or commercial transaction with them.
The Treasury Department recalled in the statement that Iran’s drones “are destabilizing the Middle East” and that the United States has issued several rounds of sanctions against Iran’s UAV manufacturing program.
The Biden administration has also accused Iran of supplying Russia with drones used in its war of invasion of Ukraine.
The U.S.-Iran relationship is going through one of its lowest points after negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear pact failed last year.