The United States has imposed new sanctions on people and businesses based in Iran, Hong Kong, China, and Venezuela for enabling Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs.
“Iran’s reckless choice to continue its proliferation of destructive UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] and other weapons prolongs numerous conflicts in regions around the world,” said Brian Nelson, undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
“The United States will continue to take action to disrupt Iran’s proliferation of UAVs and other weapons to oppressive regimes and destabilizing actors, and we encourage the international community to do the same,” he said.
The penalized include 11 individuals, eight entities, and one cargo vessel. Among the group are Iran-based equipment firms and their directors, Hong Kong-based tech companies, Chinese nationals, and Iranian officials Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani and Jaber Reihani, the nation’s defense attaché in Venezuela.
The specified entities will be blocked from accessing any property or financial assets they might have in the United States. The sanctions also prohibit U.S. citizens, companies, and financial institutions from engaging in certain transactions with those entities.
The new sanctions come as the United Nations restrictions on Iran’s missile-related activities under a Security Council resolution are set to expire.
“We will continue to do so, using every tool at our disposal, so long as Iran poses a threat to security and stability in the Middle East region and around the world,” Mr. Blinken said.
Those tools, he said, include not only sanctions but also export controls, diplomatic engagement, cooperation with the private sector, and interdictions.
“We see the horrific impact of Iran’s provision of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles to designated terrorist organizations and militant proxies that directly threaten the security of Israel and our Gulf partners,” he said. “We see the destructive result of Iran’s transfer of lethal UAVs to Russia to target critical civilian infrastructure and kill civilians in Ukraine.
Accountability
The announcement of new sanctions coincided with President Joe Biden’s trip to Israel in a show of support for the U.S. ally in its war with Hamas, a Gaza-based terrorist organization that is sponsored by Iran.On Oct. 7, Hamas waged a surprise attack on Israel via land, air, and sea that resulted in the death of about 1,400 Israelis and 31 Americans.
The victims, which were largely civilians, experienced numerous atrocities, including rapes, beheadings, mutilations, and other forms of torture. Hundreds of others were kidnapped and continue to be held hostage in Gaza.
While lawmakers have called for accountability for Iran, the Biden administration has maintained that no evidence has been found to connect that nation to the gruesome attack.
Nevertheless, Republicans in both the House and Senate have introduced a slew of bills aiming to refreeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets the Biden administration released to the country in September as part of a prisoner swap.
“The Biden Administration’s reckless decision to send $6 billion to the rogue state of Iran must be reversed,” Mr. Tillis said. “Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, and its continued financial support of Hamas enabled the cold-blooded murder of thousands of innocent Israeli civilians, including the horrific slaying of children.
“This legislation will ensure the United States does not provide the Iranian regime with more resources to fund terrorism and attack our allies.”
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has also announced sanctions against 10 Hamas members, operatives, and financial facilitators in Gaza, Sudan, Turkey, Algeria, and Qatar.
In addition to blocking financial and property transactions, the Hamas sanctions also prohibit U.S. persons and financial institutions from making or receiving any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services to or from those sanctioned.
“The U.S. Treasury has a long history of effectively disrupting terror finance, and we will not hesitate to use our tools against Hamas,” she said. “We will continue to take all steps necessary to deny Hamas terrorists the ability to raise and use funds to carry out atrocities and terrorize the people of Israel. That includes by imposing sanctions and coordinating with allies and partners to track, freeze, and seize any Hamas-related assets in their jurisdictions.”
