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New US sanctions target network supporting Iran's drone program

Since September, the Biden administration has issued multiple rounds of sanctions targeting Iran’s drone and missile programs.

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi watches combat drones alongside high-ranking officials and commanders during a military parade marking the country's annual army day in Tehran on April 18, 2023.
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi watches combat drones alongside high-ranking officials and commanders during a military parade marking the country's annual Army Day in Tehran on April 18, 2023. — ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

WASHINGTON — The US Treasury Department on Wednesday targeted an alleged sanctions-evasion network supporting Iran’s defense industry. 

The department designated Iranian national Mehdi Khoshghadam, who heads Pardazan System Namad Arman (PASNA), an Iranian company sanctioned in 2018. The Treasury accused Khoshghadam of leading PASNA’s sanctions evasion efforts by using front companies to procure electronic components from foreign suppliers mostly based in China.

Also designated Wednesday were six front companies in Iran, Malaysia, Hong Kong and China that PASNA allegedly used to procure goods and technology for Iran's defense industry.

Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Brian Nelson, said in a statement that the administration would “continue to enforce its sanctions against Iran’s military procurement efforts that contribute to regional insecurity and global instability.”

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