U.S. hits Iran with new sanctions over drone supplies to Russia, missile programs

The United States government announced the introduction of a new package of sanctions against key Iranian officials and an organization involved in the production and transfer of combat UAVs to Russia, as well as Tehran's continued missile programs.

This is stated in the official report by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (OFAC), seen by Ukrinform.

"Today, OFAC is designating six xecutives and board members of U.S. designated Qods Aviation Industries (QAI), a key Iranian defense manufacturer responsible for the design and production of unmanned aerial vehicles," the statement said.

At the same time, it is emphasized that it is about the drones that Iran handed over to Russia for use in the Kremlin's unprovoked war of aggression on Ukraine.

In addition, OFAC clarified that it is placing on the restriction list Light Airplanes Design and Manufacturing Industries, which is considered to be a modified name of a QAI structure. Sanctions are also being imposed against the chief of the Aerospace Industry Organization of Iran (AIO), the key body responsible for overseeing the country’s ballistic missile development programs.

"We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to deny Putin the weapons that he is using to wage his barbaric and unprovoked war on Ukraine," U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said in this regard.

She also emphasized that the Kremlin's dependence on suppliers of last resort, such as Iran, "shows their desperation" against the background of fierce Ukrainian resistance, as well as the success of the global coalition in disrupting the Russian arms and technology supply chains.

As reported, Ukrainian air defense forces since September have destroyed nearly 500 Iranian kamikaze drones launched by Russia.