The U.S. government sanctioned more than 20 companies in China, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, including several subsidiaries of an American semiconductor manufacturer, for “illegally supporting” Iran’s regime military forces and its proxy groups.
On October 8, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that two subsidiaries of the American company Arrow Electronics, based in China and Hong Kong, have been added to the “Entity List” of sanctioned organizations.
The decision was made due to their role in facilitating the purchase of American technologies for Iran’s regime proxy forces in the region.
According to the BIS, which oversees U.S. exports, a total of 26 companies and three new addresses have been added to the sanctions list.
U.S. President Donald Trump, after returning to the White House, has once again placed the “maximum pressure” strategy at the center of his policy toward Iran’s regime, imposing extensive sanctions on Tehran.
This approach aims to curb Iran’s regional activities, prevent progress in its nuclear program, and weaken its proxy militias.
Reason Behind the New U.S. Department of Commerce Sanctions
The U.S. Department of Commerce stated that analysis of the remains of drones shot down in the Middle East since 2017, used by Tehran’s proxy forces, revealed that some American-made electronic components—including products from Arrow Electronics and its subsidiaries—had been used in these drones.
According to the department, these components were identified after examining the wreckage of drones in Gulf and Middle Eastern countries.
The United States first considered imposing sanctions on Arrow Electronics in 2020.
At that time, it was suspected that one of the company’s Asian subsidiaries had provided certain technologies to foreign military entities.
However, Arrow denied the allegations at the time, stating that its subsidiary had no involvement in any military-related activities.
Among the companies listed in the new sanctions, five were added after analyzing the remains of drones belonging to Hamas.
These drones were intercepted and shot down by the Israeli military’s defense systems during the deadly October 7 attack.
According to the department, American-made components found in the wreckage of Hamas drones had reached the group through the sanctioned companies.
From now on, U.S. companies are prohibited from selling goods or technologies to these sanctioned entities without government authorization.
