WorldECR | US further sanctions targeting Iran’s ballistic missiles

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) has imposed sanctions on individuals and entities in Iran and China for “procuring various components, such as accelerometers and gyroscopes, which are critical inputs to Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs.”

The July 30 operation targeted five individuals and seven entities based in Iran, mainland China and Hong Kong who “facilitated procurement under Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL),” the statement said.

The United States and its allies Britain and the European Union have been increasing sanctions on Iran’s drone industry since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Tehran says Russia is a major customer for its drones. Moscow has used combat drones to devastating effect in the war in Ukraine.

“Today’s action uncovers additional key front companies and trusted agents through which Iran seeks to obtain these parts,” said U.S. Treasury Undersecretary Brian Nielsen. A day before Beijing rolled out an export control list targeting drone parts, particularly those categorized as dual-use items, Nielsen said: “The United States will continue to impose penalties on those who help Iran produce these deadly weapons.”

The Treasury Department’s latest actions target the following entities:

• Azmoon Pajohan Hesgar LLC: Iran; linked to MODAFL
• Bright Shore Inc Limited: Hong Kong; related to Thomas Ho Ming Tong
• BTW International Limited: Hong Kong; associated with Electro Optic Sairan Industries Co.
• Best Companies to Buy Electronic Parts: Iran; Related by Saeed Hamidi Javar
• Cloud Element Company Limited: Hong Kong; associated with Electro Optic Sairan Industries Co.
• Shenzhen Ruian Technology Co., Ltd.: China; related to MODAFL
• Tas Technology Company Ltd.: Hong Kong; associated with Electro Optic Sairan Industries Co.

The following individuals were also targeted:

• Mohammad Abdollahi: Iran; associated with Electro Optic Sairan Industries Co.
• Sayyed Ali Seraj Hashemi: China; Iran; associated with Beijing Shiny Nights Technology Development Co., Ltd.
• Saeed Hamidi Javar: Iran; Head of Beijing Shining Night Technology Development Co., Ltd.
• Ezzatullah Ghasemian Sorbani: Iran; associated with Azmoon Pajohan Hesgar LLC
• Thomas Ho Ming Tong: China; associated with Electro Optic Sairan Industries Co.