America imposes sanctions on 10 individuals and entities for purchasing weapons for Iran

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While the United States confirmed its continued imposition of its blockade on Iran, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of the Treasury, on Tuesday, imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and entities in several countries, accusing them of involvement in purchasing weapons and military components for the Iranian Ministry of Defense.

Treasury Secretary Scott Besent said, “The Treasury Department will continue, as part of Operation Economic Pariah, to target and disrupt entities that provide material, technical, or financial support that enables the Iranian regime to continue its terrorist activities,” according to today’s statement, adding: “The Treasury Department will not tolerate any support for the regime, and will continue to identify, expose, and isolate entities that enable it.”

In addition, the US Treasury confirmed that the new step aims to “undermine the Iranian regime’s ability to rebuild its weapons programs, and raise the cost to parties that assist Tehran’s efforts to purchase military equipment.”

The sanctions were taken pursuant to Executive Order No. 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. In October 2007, the US State Department designated the Iranian Ministry of Defense and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard under the same order, due to their connection to the Iranian ballistic missile program.

Meanwhile, the Treasury said that Seyyed Asghar Alizadeh Tabatabai, in his capacity as a representative of the Iranian Ministry of Defense in Beijing, coordinates the purchase of ready-made weapons systems and dual-use components from China for the benefit of Iran, as “sanctions were imposed on him for working directly or indirectly for or on behalf of the Iranian Ministry of Defense.”

It was also reported that the Cavushcom Asia Research and Development Group, based in Iran, purchased electronic devices and components, including connectors, for the Iranian Aircraft Manufacturing Company (HASA), affiliated with the Ministry of Defense and specialized in developing drones and military aircraft.

The Treasury identified Ali Fotut Ahmadi as director of Cavoshcom, noting that he had signed correspondence addressed to HSA on its behalf, noting that “EC Mojo Technology Limited, based in Hong Kong, provided electronic components in support of the purchases carried out by Cavoshcom. The company’s representative in China, Li Fan, also attempted to circumvent sanctions and export controls, while Cavoshcom’s representative in Iran, Parisa Lali, facilitated purchases for HSA,” according to the US Treasury.

The decision came at a time when the US administration is intensifying its use of economic pressure on Iran, in parallel with military and diplomatic pressures related to the war.

Trump had rejected an Iranian proposal to stop attacks for seven days, while Washington seeks to use sanctions and financial measures to pressure Tehran and push it to make concessions regarding the course of the war.

Note that the US administration says that this policy aims to deprive the Iranian government of the resources it uses to finance its military and missile programs and its regional networks. On the other hand, Tehran rejects the US policy of sanctions and pressure, and considers them part of a policy that targets the Iranian economy and restricts its trade and oil revenues.