US Sanctions Global Entities Supporting Iran’s Missile, Drone Capabilities
Udumbara
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The United States has imposed sanctions on dozens of individuals and entities across several countries, including China and Hong Kong, for operating procurement networks to aid Iran’s ballistic missile and drone production.
Other countries where those sanctioned were based include Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, India, Germany, and Ukraine.
“Across the globe, Iran exploits financial systems to launder funds, procure components for its nuclear and conventional weapons programs, and support its terrorist proxies,” John Hurley, undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said in a statement.
“At the direction of President Trump, we are putting maximum pressure on Iran to end its nuclear threat. The United States also expects the international community to fully implement UN snapback sanctions on Iran to cut off its access to the global financial system.”
One of the networks involved a three-person venture that the Treasury described as the “MVM partnership,” which is accused of buying chemicals used to make ballistic missile propellant from China on behalf of Iran’s Defense Industries Organization. The chemicals included sodium chlorate, sodium perchlorate, and sebacic acid.
Sodium perchlorate, derived from sodium chlorate, is used to make ammonium perchlorate, a chemical that helps fuel many solid rocket engines.
According to the Treasury, the partnership “procured and transported hundreds of metric tons” of these chemicals from China since 2023.
The three individuals running the partnership are Marco Klinge, based in the UAE, and Majid Dolatkhah and Vahid Qayumi, who are based in Iran and Turkey, respectively. The Treasury blacklisted the three and several entities tied to them.
Ma “supports Mado’s affairs in China, including making travel arrangements for visiting Mado employees and coordinating meetings between Iranian defense officials and their China-based suppliers,” according to the Treasury. His Hong Kong-based companies had been involved in facilitating millions in transactions, the agency added.
The Treasury also targeted a network that supports Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company, a state-owned subsidiary of Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics that produces military aircraft and drones.
“These networks pose a threat to U.S. and allied personnel in the Middle East and to commercial shipping in the Red Sea,” the Treasury stated.
“The United States will continue to use all available means, including sanctions on entities based in third countries, to expose, disrupt, and counter Iran’s procurement of equipment and items for its ballistic missile and UAV programs, which jeopardize regional security and international stability,” State Department spokesman Thomas Pigott said.
The October sanction targeted a network based in Iran, Hong Kong, and China for procuring U.S.-origin, dual-use electronics for an Iran-controlled entity that manufactures equipment for the Iranian military.
The United States, along with its European allies and Israel, has accused Iran of using its nuclear program as a cover for its attempts to develop atomic weapons. Tehran has rejected the charge.
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