US Sanctions 13 Individuals and Entities Over Iran Weapons Procurement
The US has imposed fresh sanctions on 13 individuals and entities accused of helping Iran procure weapons and components, including targets in Russia, China, Hong Kong and Pakistan.
The United States announced fresh sanctions on Tuesday against 13 individuals and entities, including several based in Russia, China, Hong Kong and Pakistan, accusing them of helping Iran procure weapons and components.
The measures, issued by the Treasury and State departments, form part of the Trump administration's broader campaign to isolate Iran economically and push it toward negotiations to end the war that began with a US-Israeli strike on Iran on February 28.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the department would not tolerate any support for the Iranian government and would keep working to identify, expose and isolate those enabling it. According to Treasury, the sanctions are intended to degrade Tehran's capacity to rebuild its weapons programs and to raise the cost for anyone assisting its procurement efforts.
Among those designated is Seyyed Asghar Alizadeh Tabatabai, described as a Beijing-based representative of Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics agency, who Treasury said coordinated the purchase of finished weapons systems and dual-use components in China on Iran's behalf.
The list also includes Kavoshcom Asia R and D Group, based in Iran, which Treasury said procured electronics, including connectors, for Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company. Hong Kong-based EC Mojo Technology Co Limited was accused of supplying electronic components in support of Kavoshcom's procurement work, along with its China-based representative Li Fen.
In Pakistan, the sanctions target Waseem Pasha Tajammal, who serves as chairman of Cavalier Group, a privately owned defense company with operations in Pakistan and internationally. Two Russia-based entities were also named: Joint Stock Company Experimental Design Bureau Named After A.S. Yakovlev, an aircraft manufacturer, and MG-Flot LLC, a shipping company whose vessels Treasury said transport weapons for the Russian government. Iran-based Saha Airlines, an carrier affiliated with the country's air force, was designated as well.
Brett Erickson, managing principal at Obsidian Risk Advisors, said the action would do little to curb Iran's ability to launch missiles and drones in the Strait of Hormuz. He characterized the measures as optics management for the Trump administration, saying the reality was that Washington was "poking them with a toothpick."